A Florida woman sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot during a fight with her husband will remain in home detention after a judge ruled Friday that she did not violate the terms of her release when she left her house to run errands.
Marissa Alexander, 33, who has a new trial set for March 31, was released on bail in November and ordered to stay under house arrest and wear an electronic tracking device.
But during the month of December, Alexander made trips to the local bank and grocery store, among other errands. Prosecutors alleged that these outings violated her release — and that she should be ordered to go back behind bars.
But Judge James Daniel said Friday that "this was not a willful violation" of Alexander's release, citing testimony from the Duval County Sheriff supervisor who handles the home detention that said the errands were sanctioned.