Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier criticized Orlando State Attorney Monique Worrell over her handling of a criminal case involving Marcus Anderson, who had been indicted by a grand jury for capital murder.
Anderson was facing a charge that could have carried the death penalty. Instead, Uthmeier said Worrell’s office allowed Anderson to receive a four-year prison sentence as a “youthful offender.”
Uthmeier argued that the outcome reflects what he described as a broader pattern of lenient plea agreements for violent offenders. He condemned the decision as a failure of duty and called for an end to what he characterized as “sweetheart plea deals” in serious criminal cases.
The criticism comes as Uthmeier has continued to challenge Worrell’s approach to prosecution, particularly in cases involving violent crime and sentencing decisions. In 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Worrell, accusing her of “neglect of duty” and “incompetence” for what he described as lenient prosecution practices in Orange and Osceola counties. The governor’s order alleged that Worrell’s office avoided mandatory minimum sentences in some gun and drug-trafficking cases, allowed some juvenile offenders to avoid serious charges or incarceration, and pursued outcomes that DeSantis said failed to protect the public. Worrell denied the allegations, arguing that the suspension was politically motivated and interfered with prosecutorial discretion. The immediate effect was that DeSantis removed her from office and appointed Andrew Bain to serve in her place; in 2024, the Florida Supreme Court rejected Worrell’s bid for reinstatement, allowing the suspension to stand.
A grand jury indicted Marcus Anderson for capital murder. Instead of facing the death penalty, Orlando State Attorney Worrell gave him 4 years in prison as a “youthful offender.”
And she keeps handing out sweetheart plea deals to violent criminals. This neglect of duty must end! pic.twitter.com/gzdqks1z50— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) May 12, 2026
Earlier today, Uthmeier also called on the Florida House to consider impeachment proceedings against two judges, accusing them of endangering the public with their decisions.
In a social media post, Uthmeier criticized Tallahassee Judge Tiffany Baker for allowing a convicted child predator to remain out on bond, a decision he linked to the later murder of 5-year-old Missy Mogle. He also condemned Miami-Dade Judge Richard Hersch for granting bond to a defendant accused in a violent sexual assault case in which Uthmeier said rocks were shoved into a girl’s mouth during the attack.
Uthmeier argued that the cases reflect a failure by judges to properly weigh public safety when deciding whether defendants should remain free while awaiting further court proceedings. His comments escalated criticism of judicial discretion in serious criminal cases and raised the question of whether state lawmakers should pursue impeachment against judges accused of making dangerously lenient bond decisions.
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