JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Monday, the judge handling the Jared Bridegan murder-for-hire case accepted a proposal from Mario Fernandez, the estranged husband of Bridegan’s former wife, to keep specific evidence confidential before the trial starts.

Both Fernandez and Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, are facing potential death sentences if found guilty of murdering Bridegan. The father of four from St. Augustine was killed on February 16, 2022, in what authorities describe as a “murder-for-hire plot” allegedly organized by Gardner and Fernandez, who both deny the murder charges.

Henry Tenon is another individual charged in connection with Bridegan’s murder. He has confessed to second-degree murder, admitted to shooting Bridegan, and agreed to testify against Gardner and Fernandez. The accusation against Gardner and Fernandez involves paying Tenon $150,000 to carry out Bridegan’s murder.

On Monday, Judge London Kite accepted Fernandez’s request to limit the release of certain evidence associated with him, such as numerous interviews and reports, until “a jury has been selected and sequestered.”

“The defendant believes these documents involve claims of unrelated misconduct to his present charges that, if made public, could risk his ability to have a fair trial and receive due process,” Kite stated in her decision.

Kite also mentioned that the court views the materials as having minimal importance to the current proceedings, indicating they should remain private until “the jury starts deliberations in any penalty phase, or is dismissed after delivering a verdict,” striking a balance between safeguarding his legal rights and the public’s interest in transparent proceedings.

Another motion Kite granted from Fernandez on Monday now prohibits the Nassau County Jail from releasing “any and all” communications related to Tenon to the public.

“These communications include, but are not limited to the following: jail calls, tablet calls, tablet messages, incoming mail, outgoing mail, and the like,” Kite wrote in her order the motion.

Tenon was moved to the Nassau County Jail in February.

Gardner and Fernandez’s trial is scheduled to start on Aug. 3, 2026. It was originally set to begin Oct. 20, but during a pre-trial hearing in July, Judge London Kite agreed with requests to move the trial date. Attorneys said jury selection would begin Aug. 3 and could last a week.

The trial, which is a death penalty case, is expected to last more than six weeks. Kite said it could last through Sept. 18, 2026, including the penalty phase if a guilty verdict is returned.

Gardner and Fernandez will have separate juries, and Kite noted that as many as 500 potential jurors, 250 per defendant, could be brought in due to the level of public interest in the case. The judge also acknowledged the extensive amount of time a jury would have to be available for the length of the trial.

Gardner and Fernandez are both charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse.