Embattled deputy resigns

Marshall-Jones, a 22-year veteran, faces a felony charge in the wheelchair incident.

By Rebecca Catalanello, Times Staff Writer
Published February 19, 2008

Charlette Marshall-Jones turned herself in to the Sheriff's Office. In an image taken from video, Marshall-Jones is shown in upper right at the counter. Video See the incident
	[Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office]

ADVERTISEMENT [Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office] Video shows Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones dumping Brian Sterner, a quadriplegic man, out of a wheelchair. Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones, 44, faces a felony charge of abuse against a disabled person. [Handout] Brian Sterner was dumped from his wheelchair and searched. [Handout]

TAMPA - Vilified nationally for her actions against a man in a wheelchair, Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones resigned Monday from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, saying she never intended to inflict malicious harm on anyone.

Marshall-Jones was captured on jail video Jan. 29 dumping quadriplegic Brian Sterner from his wheelchair - an image played over and over since Sterner went to local and national news media last week.

The 22-year veteran detention deputy surrendered Saturday morning to face a felony charge of abuse against a disabled person.

In a brief letter of resignation, Marshall-Jones, 44, expressed "sincere regret and remorse" over leaving her job.

"It never was, nor never could be my intention to bring malicious harm or shame to anyone," she wrote in the letter, dated Friday. She talked about possessing "pride and integrity in what I do and who I am."

John Trevena, Sterner's attorney, said her statement is "in direct contradiction to the undisputed facts captured on the videotape."

In the video, Sterner falls forward to the ground after Marshall-Jones pushes up the back of his wheelchair. The deputy then conducts a physical search of Sterner before another jail worker assists in propping him back in his chair.

"Clearly, she was callous and emotionless as she battered my client," Trevena said.

Sheriff David Gee, who has called Marshall-Jones' actions inexcusable, accepted her resignation Monday.

Marshall-Jones remains eligible for retirement benefits through the Florida Retirement System, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office is conducting its own internal investigation into the incident.

Three other employees remain suspended in connection with the incident - two with pay, one without.

Norman S. Cannella, Marshall-Jones' attorney, said the Sheriff's Office violated standard operating procedure by releasing Sterner's booking video before completing an internal investigation.

"Her side of the story will come out in a trial," Cannella said. "I think the coverage of the case has been overblown."

Cannella said he doesn't think the video should have been released because it lacks audio and doesn't fully represent what happened. He wouldn't say what he meant by that.

As for the public outcry over the video, he said, "If people want to make a decision based on a lack of evidence then that's their prerogative."

Interviewed by a Times columnist last week - apparently before he took on Marshall-Jones as a client - Cannella himself said a defense in the case would be a challenge.

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

Times staff writer Abbie VanSickle contributed to this report. Rebecca Catalanello can be reached at rcatalanello@sptimes.com or 813 226-3383.

In her words

Here is the unedited text of Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones' resignation letter:

"It is with sincere regret and remorse that I now find it necessary to leave an organization and job that had for 22 years, become as much a fashion of a family member or body part as could be. Please be aware that it never was, nor never could be my intention to bring malicious harm or shame to anyone. That is because it is that I posses too much pride and integrity in what I do and who I am. But, in particular, to the individual, who has brought about such accusations to the contrary, I find it necessary to respectfully resign from employment with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

"I bid many sadness laden 'Good-bye's' and ENDLESS Thank-You's for any and all personal and emotional support offered to me by everyone effected."

[Last modified February 18, 2008, 23:16:54]