Deputy in video case is arrested

Accused of dumping a man from wheelchair, she turns herself in.

By Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer
Published February 17, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Charlette Marshall-Jones, faces a felony charge of abuse of a disabled person.

TAMPA - Hillsborough detention Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones surrendered at the Orient Road Jail at 5 a.m. Saturday and was booked on felony charges of abuse of a disabled person.

Marshall-Jones was arrested in connection with the videotaped incident in which Brian Sterner, a quadriplegic, was tossed onto the jail floor to be searched. A warrant was issued for the suspended deputy Friday.

She was released on a $3,500 bail at 6:18 a.m., jail records state. Her attorney is Norman Cannella Sr., a Tampa lawyer who has represented other law enforcement officers charged with crimes.

Cannella told a Times columnist last week that the case won't be easy.

"It would be terribly difficult to explain to a jury as a defense lawyer," Cannella said. "And easily explained by a prosecutor and by the video."

He could not be reached Saturday.

Sterner's attorney, John Trevena, said he's glad Marshall-Jones turned herself in, and he's interested to see how she "defends the indefensible."

Trevena said he finds Cannella an odd choice for a defense attorney, given his statements about the challenge posed by the case, but he added that Cannella has a good reputation.

"As a criminal defense lawyer myself, I've struggled with what possible defense she intends to offer for her heinous conduct," Trevena said.

Cannella, who's built a reputation as one of the city's most respected defense lawyers, may be best known for representing Bubba the Love Sponge Clem when he was charged with felony animal cruelty for castrating and slaughtering a pig on his radio show. Cannella argued that killing a pig in the woods is not illegal, so why would it be on the radio? Clem was found not guilty.

Cannella also has been successful representing law enforcement officers in some controversial cases.

He was the attorney who defended former Tampa police Chief Bennie Holder against a sexual harassment complaint, former Hillsborough sheriff's Maj. Rocky Rodriguez during a department investigation into his behavior, and Patricia Batts, a former Tampa police officer arrested on drug charges and subsequently cleared.

And he was the lawyer for Chester Copeland, a Tampa police lieutenant accused in 1996 of raping another officer in the police station.

A special prosecutor declined to pursue the case, citing lack of evidence, all the more remarkable because in 1995 Cannella won an acquittal for the same officer in another rape case.

The State Attorney's Office has 180 days to bring a case against Marshall-Jones unless she waives her right to a speedy trial. Trevena said he'll focus on the criminal case before filing any civil lawsuits.

"We don't want to do anything to compromise the criminal prosecution of the parties involved," he said.

Trevena said additional criminal charges may be filed against Marshall-Jones, such as failing to report the abuse of an adult, a misdemeanor.

Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said she could not comment Saturday about the possibility of additional charges because the case is too new.

Reached nearly 11 hours after Marshall-Jones posted bail, the deputy's mother said her daughter "has been tried and convicted in the news.

"I listened to all the anchors, their comments," Alma Marshall said. "This has been truly sensationalized. Nobody has stopped to think: This guy's in jail. He's not a saint. The way I see it, she doesn't stand a fighting chance."

Marshall, 66, would not comment on how her daughter was doing, except to say, "she's extremely loved and she has everybody's prayers."

Times staff writer Rodney Thrash contributed to this report. Jessica Vander Velde can be reached at jvandervelde@sptimes.com or 813 661-2443.

[Last modified February 16, 2008, 23:06:33]