Date of Offense
Offense(s)
Statement
This judge came in during the middle of my court case. We had just filed a motion for reconsideration regarding the motion to suppress. He instantly denied the motion for reconsideration, and he took no time to review this case. In fact, had he reviewed the case and looked into the reason why he was actually brought to Highlands County Court, was becasue the judge sitting before him was let go and sent back to family court because she was overwhelmed in Criminal court. She had used the 2023 and 2024 Statutes on a 2022 case. The statute had changed in 2022, and he didn't even catch that error. Nor did he review the case because the second error should have been the detective stating that he had NO PROBABLE CAUSE to pull the defendant over, nor engaging in any illegal activities. No probable cause, then no traffic stop should have happened. In May, during court, after allowing my attorney to step down due to feeling coerced into taking an open plea when I had wanted to go to trial from the beginning. Then, when asking me if I needed to apply to have a public defender, the defendant told him yes i need a public defender. HE SCREAMED AT THE DEFENDANT AND WAS EXCESS AND UNPROFESSIONAL HE SAID I SAID PUBLIC DEFENDER, NOT PUBLIC PRETENDER AND WAS ACCUSING THE DEFENDANT OF SAYING THAT. RIGHT AFTER HE REVOKED THE DEFENDANT'S BOND BECAUSE THE DEFENDANT HAD REVOKED HIS OPEN PLEA AFTER FEELING HE WAS BEING FORCED TO TAKE THIS OPEN PLEA. THE DUE PROCESS FOR THIS COURT IS NOT HAPPENING, AND THE JUDGE WILL GIVE YOU A SMIRK WHEN HE DENIES MOTIONS OR SIDES WITH THE STATE. He doesn't listen to the defense attorney, and during this defendants sister has the whole time the defendant was up at the podium recorded. Judge Ward has blatantly lied about the defendant, saying public pretender when he said public defender. This judge needs to be reprimanded for his behavior, and he also needs to be investigated for not following the oath he took before becoming a judge, wearing the black robe, and taking the seat. the way he treated the defendant with no attorney by defendants side was unethical and violated his right to have an attorney. he also out of spite revoked this defendants bond. this case has been ongoing since 2022 with obvious serious issues . the defendant not once missed a court date. his bondsman never had any issues. he has remained drug freee and working 80 hours a week. this judge needs to be investigate and the cases he came in on need to be reviewed.
