Florida State Attorney Monique Worrell is once again at the center of a major controversy, facing renewed criticism from state officials who accuse her of going too soft on individuals charged with disturbing child-related crimes.

The state’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has launched a series of public attacks against Worrell’s office, claiming her team has repeatedly declined to prosecute serious cases involving child exploitation and lewd acts. Uthmeier says these decisions amount to “gross negligence” and put vulnerable children at risk.

One of the most debated cases involves Kevin Chapman, a 61-year-old man accused of exposing himself and masturbating on a park bench in front of children. According to the Attorney General’s office, Worrell’s team declined to file charges or seek his detention. In another case, Thomas Dolgos was allegedly found with dozens of videos showing sexual abuse of infants and toddlers. Uthmeier argues that Worrell’s office dropped the charges even after the Office of Statewide Prosecution took over the investigation.

Worrell, however, insists her office followed proper legal standards and that some of the accusations are misleading. She explained that her office withdrew from the child pornography case because it was already being handled by state prosecutors and said the lewd conduct case lacked enough evidence to meet the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard required for trial.

Speaking in her defense, Worrell accused Uthmeier of distorting facts for political gain. She said her decisions were based on law and evidence — not politics — and criticized the Attorney General for what she called a “dishonest smear campaign.”

The dispute between the two offices has been growing for weeks. Just recently, Uthmeier also clashed with Worrell over a plea deal involving a man who shot at his ex-girlfriend. He claimed the plea violated Florida’s mandatory sentencing laws, while Worrell countered that her office acted within its legal authority, citing the statute that allows documented sentencing reductions under specific conditions.

Worrell’s critics argue that her pattern of leniency undermines public safety, while her supporters claim she is being unfairly targeted for enforcing fair prosecution standards and resisting political pressure.

The tension echoes previous conflicts between Worrell and Florida’s Republican leadership. She was suspended by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023 over similar claims of neglect of duty, only to win her seat back in the 2024 election.

As the feud continues, both sides appear to be digging in deeper — setting the stage for another high-stakes political and legal battle over how justice should be served in Florida’s courts. Read More