Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has demanded the removal of a judge after a pedophile, who was released and is now accused of murdering his five-year-old stepdaughter, was allowed to walk free.
On Tuesday, DeSantis urged the Florida House to impeach Leon Circuit Judge Tiffany Baker-Carper, condemning her actions as an “outrage.”
Previously, Judge Baker-Carper had granted bond to Daniel Spencer, a 36-year-old convicted sex offender, before he was sentenced for a different case involving an underage sex sting last year.
Spencer now faces accusations of killing his stepdaughter, Melissa “Missy” Mogle, who passed away after being taken to the hospital with severe injuries in May. Prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty in this case.
The young girl was found with cuts, bruises, and burn marks that pointed to ongoing child abuse.
DeSantis remarked, “To my friends in the Florida House of Representatives, I don’t think what you’ve done is enough.”
He added: ‘You have the power, and you have sufficient numbers in your chamber, to impeach this judge.’
DeSantis warned that until lawmakers held ‘these judges accountable, they are going to continue to find ways to benefit the criminal element.’
Leon Circuit Judge Tiffany Baker-Carper released convicted sex offender Daniel Spencer, 36, on bond last year. He has since been accused of murdering his stepdaughter
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that Baker-Carper should be impeached, saying that her actions were an ‘outrage’ and led to five-year-old Missy Mogle’s murder
Daniel Spencer, 36, was indicted on first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse
DeSantis made the remarks while signing Missy’s Law into legislation. The law is named after the young girl allegedly killed by Spencer.
The Florida governor was surrounded by members of her family as he blasted the judge who allowed Spencer to be released.
‘She put him out on bail pending sentence, and what happened between that decision and when he was sentenced?’ DeSantis said. ‘He murdered Missy. Totally preventable.’
DeSantis called the killing a ‘miscarriage of justice’ as he took aim at the judge.
Missy’s Law will require courts to immediately remand individuals convicted of dangerous crimes into custody pending sentencing. The possibility of being released on bond will not exist.
Spencer and his wife Chloe Spencer were later indicted on first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and other charges. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against both.
‘This should be such an easy call to make sure that this guy was put behind bars, and this judge refused to do it, knowing the risks,’ DeSantis said.
Missy was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries last May. Investigators said she had cuts, bruises and burn marks
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said there were hours of videos that showed Spencer ‘physically abusing’ Missy
Spencer had been found guilty of traveling to meet a minor following a one-day trial last April 15.
However, Baker-Carper did not remand him to custody despite his conviction.
‘He has been out for an entire year as far as I saw with no violations,’ Baker-Carper said, per the Tallahassee Democrat.
‘I didn’t see any criminal history regarding violence. The only criminal history I saw was relating to drug offenses when I looked. Madam prosecutor, you’re free to enlighten the court if I’ve missed something.’
Law enforcement officials found disturbing evidence connected to Missy’s death, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
One set of photos showed the little girl bound at the feet and ankles with a pillow over her face.
Another image pictured her swaddled tightly with a mask over her face and earmuffs on her ears.
Videos also showed hours of Spencer ‘physically abusing Missy by hitting her, violently pulling her arms, shoving her face into a bed, binding her feet and hands together, and covering her with pillows and comforters.’
Spencer was also under an active investigation for sexually abusing Missy at the time.
DeSantis said that Democrats should join Republicans in calling for the judge to step down from her position
Spencer was also under investigation for sexually abusing Missy at the time, according to the Florida Attorney General
DeSantis said he was signing Missy’s Law partly because ‘we live in a time where some people just don’t get it.
‘That includes some of these judges who just don’t want to hold these people accountable to the fullest extent of the law,’ he added. ‘Now, that is not going to be a problem.’
DeSantis described how the Florida state constitution vests the House with the ability to impeach a circuit judge with a two-thirds majority vote.
‘Last time I checked, we’ve got way more than two-thirds of Republicans,’ he said.
He called for lawmakers across the aisle to join the calls for Baker-Carper to step down.
‘Honestly, I think some Democrats would vote to impeach given what’s happened in this case,’ DeSantis said.
Other Republicans in the Sunshine State have echoed the Florida governor’s call for Baker-Carper to quit her job.
Following DeSantis’ announcement, Uthmeier said that lawmakers had ‘a duty to hold Judge Baker accountable.’
‘Radical judges must not be allowed to endanger our kids,’ he added on X.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Baker-Carper and DeSantis’ office for comment.
