8/13/2019 Statement from State Attorney Office
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Office of the State Attorney
Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida
www.sao4th.com
Contact: Jackelyn Barnard
Tel: (904) 630-4995
[email protected]
ANGELA B. COREYSTATE ATTORNEY
On December 15, 2012, at 1:30 a.m., Monica Jones and three
co-defendants committed an armed robbery with a firearm of an
innocent store clerkat a BP gas station. Ms. Jones was arrested
shortly after the violent crime andcharged with Armed Robbery and
Resisting Officer Without Violence To His OrHer Person. The
17-year-olds case was then sent to Juvenile Court.
Juvenile cases and the negotiations that occur in juvenile
casesare
handled no differently than how an adult case moves through the
judicial system.Once a crime has been committed, a prosecutor
reviews the facts of the crime tofirst determine if the charge is
provable beyond a reasonable doubt. The StateAttorneys Office (SAO)
then provides the juvenile and their defense counsel withthe option
to present mitigation and negotiations begin.
If the juvenile commits a violent act, defense counsel is
notified that thecase is being reviewed for possible Direct File in
adult court, in accordance withFlorida law. Multiple Assistant
State Attorneys (ASA) review a possible Direct
File case and an appropriate filing decision is then made. While
that process isunderway, prosecutors routinely ask defense counsel
for offers in their cases.This is a standard part of criminal case
resolution.
That is exactly what happened in Ms. Jones case. Her attorney,
ChrisCarson, even detailed in an email the negotiation process and
that Ms. Joneswas involved in a serious crime. Carson told the
prosecutor, I have all of themitigation together and we are working
on formulating an offer. Obviously shewill be willing to cooperate
fully. Now I understand that there may be somecommitment involved
if we are able to settle. She is on board, I am just curiousas to
what level of commitment we should offer. I hate to come in with a
lowballon such a serious case.
Ms. Jones was detained in a juvenile detention facility until
she pled guiltyto the Armed Robbery and Resisting Without Violence
charges in February 2013.The decision to keep a juvenile in
detention, while a case is pending, isdetermined by Florida
Statutes that assess a score based upon the seriousnature of the
charge.
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8/13/2019 Statement from State Attorney Office
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On February 27, 2013, Ms. Jones pled guilty to the charges. The
plea wasnegotiated with the defendant and her attorney. According
to the official courttranscript, Ms. Jones was asked if this plea
was what she wanted, she replied yes. She also told Judge Mark
Mahon that she was thankful for the disposition
of the case. The defendants mother was present during the
process and alsothanked Judge Mahon.
At no time has the State Attorneys Office received a complaint
from afamily member or attorney regarding Ms. Jones case. This case
was handledappropriately considering the violent nature of the
crime Ms. Jones committed.
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