DeSantis Moves Against Prosecutor After Parolee Allegedly Goes on Killing Rampage

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took another step in his campaign against liberal prosecutors. He moved against an Orlando prosecutor following the shooting deaths of three people on February 22, including a 9 year-old girl.

A 19-year old man was placed on juvenile felony probation and pleaded not guilty to the initial charge of first-degree murder.

Keith Moses was then charged with two additional counts of first-degree killing on February 28.

Ryan Newman, DeSantis’s counsel, asked Monique Worrell to turn over records about Moses. Monique Worrell is the state attorney for Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit that covers Orange and Osceola County.

Moses was arrested for possessing a small amount marijuana in November 2021 and later released. Newman claimed that it was a probation violation. He and his two co-defendants have long criminal records and could have been facing more serious charges.

“The failure of your office to hold this individual accountable for his actions—despite his extensive criminal history and gang affiliation—may have permitted this dangerous individual to remain on the street.

“Evidently, Mr. Moses should not have been in a position last week to commit these senseless crimes.” Newman wrote to Worrell in a letter dated Feb. 28.

Newman wrote that Moses’s most recent arrest had been on Nov. 21, 2021, for possession of fewer than 20 grams of cannabis.

“The arrest affidavit states, ‘It should be noted that all three subjects have multiple firearms possession charges, to include attempted first-degree murder and armed robbery with a firearm and all had ski mask style masks on them in the vehicle.’

“Further, our records indicate that Mr. Moses was on Juvenile Felony Probation at the time of this arrest, having previously been arrested for offenses such as battery, burglary, larceny, robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, and multiple instances of resisting an officer, among other serious arrests.”

Newman refers to the Florida Constitution’s governor’s authority to require written information. “from all executive or administrative state, county or municipal officers upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices.”

He also demands “information on the number and circumstances of individuals who—1) were arrested for committing a felony or had violated the terms of their probation by being arrested for a crime, 2) had a prior criminal history, and 3) were not prosecuted by your office.”

Worrell has until March. 14 days to comply.

Orange County deputies said Deputies responded to reports that there had been a shooting at Pine Hills around 11:20 a.m., Feb. 22.

Nathacha Augustin was 38. She was killed instantly. Later, police reported that the woman was riding in a vehicle where Moses had offered her a ride.

Dylan Lyons, a Spectrum News 13 reporter, was injured in the incident. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Jesse Walden was also seriously hurt.

According to police, T’yonna Major (9 years old) was shot and killed in her home near her mother. Her mother sustained serious injuries.

This is the governor’s second move after he suspended Andrew Warren, Hillsborough County’s state attorney, on Aug. 4, 20,22.

DeSantis’s order Warren made it clear that he wouldn’t enforce abortion laws.

Recall this:

Warren and Worrell were two of the 74 national prosecutors who signed a June 2021 condemnation statement against transgender criminalization and gender-affirming healthcare care. This was attached as Exhibit B to DeSantis’s order.

Chesa Boudin from San Francisco was also one of the other prosecutors. He was ejected by voters in Jun. 7, 2022 and George Gascon. He survived a recall attempt on August 2022 after a court rejected almost 200,000 of nearly 716,000 signatures that were collected to recall him.

Both were supported by George Soros (progressive financier) during their election.

DeSantis’s suspension order also cited Warren because she declined to prosecute misdemeanor offenses.

Warren’s suit for reinstatement was dismissed by a federal judge on Jan. 20, 2023. He found it not to be a federal matter and widely criticised the governor’s actions in the opinion.

Worrell was defended in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel.

Moses was found with 4.5 grams of marijuana and arrested in 2021. But, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement cannot test quantities below 20 grams. This is the minimum felony amount.

Political Play is Rejected by Families

“Even if I was able to proceed that case, there is no sentence in the entire state of Florida that would have required Mr. Moses to be incarcerated in prison,” She spoke.

“You have to hold people accountable,” DeSantis spoke at a press conference on February 27, 2007.

“I know the state attorney in Orlando thinks that you don’t prosecute people and that’s the way that somehow you have better communities. That does not work.”

Florida Sen. Rick Scott supported DeSantis’s decision. Scott is a former Florida Governor.

“Every prosecutor that chose to give this young criminal a pass should be fired today,” Scott said in a statement, “and state attorney Worrell must immediately account for how her office failed to protect the community from a violent criminal and outline what she’s changing to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

But, the victims’ families will be represented by a lawyer issued a statement DeSantis & Scott were accused by them of playing politics in the tragedy. Worrell defended Worrell’s actions regarding Moses’s previous case. They also called for tighter gun laws to be passed.

“Both families are strong and resolute in their conviction not to allow their children to die in vain or for them to be used as political pawns by DeSantis and Scott when the true issue of sane and responsible gun laws is being deflected and avoided by these gun-loving politicians,” Mark NeJame, attorney, said.

He represents the Lyons and Major families.