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Woman Jailed for Warning Shot Free For Now

<p>She was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot during a fight with her husband.</p>
Image: Marissa Alexander
Marissa Alexander walks out of court after a hearing where Judge Daniel decided that she could remain free on bond, on Jan. 10, 2014 in Jacksonville, Fla. Assistant State Attorney Richard Mantei said Alexander violated terms of the home detention, which prohibited her from leaving her house except to go to court appearances, and for medical emergencies and to satisfy any requirements of the program. The judge, in denying the state's request, said Alexander didn't knowingly violate the order.Bob Mack / The Florida Times-Union Pool via AP

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.

State prosecutors have said they will retry Alexander in the original case, in which Alexander was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. An appeals court later found that the jury had been given incorrect instructions on her self-defense claim, and ordered a new trial.