JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County Jail confirmed to Channel 4 that Marissa Alexander was released on bond and is now on home detention.
According to Alexander's lawyer, Bruce Zimet Judge Daniel granted a motion for pretrial release Wednesday. She was released on $200,000 bond and is on house arrest, with a GPS monitoring device. Zimet expects Alexander to remain out of jail until her hearing. Here are the conditions of Alexander's bond, according to the Duval County Clerk of Courts website:
- Remain under supervision of pretrial services program (PSP) or its designated service provider, the Community Transitions Center (CTC) of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, at all times who will monitor her compliance
- Subject to electronic monitoring through the CTC at all times
- Remain on home detention until completion of her case and not allowed to leave her home except for court appearances, medical emergencies, and to satisfy any requirements of PSP or the CTC
- Report for all required court appearances and all required appointments with the PSP or its designated service provider
- Cannot change her residence without getting it approved by the PSP or its designated service provider
- Cannot have contact with Rico Gray Sr. nor communicate by any means with parties involved in the original case
- Has to abide by all court orders in the divorce proceedings involving Rico Gray Sr., including all orders that pertain to child custody. Exchange of child custody for visitation will be facilitated by a third party
- Cannot possess firearms and there can't be any firearms in her home at any time during her pretrial release
- Cannot drink alcohol or take drugs that aren't prescribed by a doctor
- Must abide by all rules and regulations for the PSP and the CTC, including random drug testing
- Subject to all reporting requirements for the CTC and PSP
- Subject to home searches without a warrant by CTC officers, or any JSO officer conducting a search at the direction of CTC personnel, to ensure compliance with her pretrial release conditions
"Miss Alexander was probably not well known except to her family, friends and lawyers. Now she is known to the whole world," said attorney Gene Nichols. "She will be watched all the time. She also has to wear an ankle monitor, so she will be tracked wherever she goes, whenever she goes and she is now in the national spotlight."
Alexander will remain on home detention until the completion of her case and she will not be allowed to leave except for court and medical emergencies.
"This was a substantial bond," Nichols said. "I am surprised she was able to make it. She clearly had people helping here."
Alexander is also not allowed to communicate with her husband, Rico Gray, and two children. Alexander is not allowed to have guns in her house and she can't drink alcohol.
A group called Free Marissa Now that has been outspoken about the release of Marissa will gathered Thursday at the Landing in downtown Jacksonville near the Christmas Tree to celebrate her release and are calling it a "Welcome Home Celebration."
The group has also issued a statement regarding the new details of Marissa:
"Words cannot express the relief and joy of everyone in the Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign that Marissa Alexander is home with her family this Thanksgiving Day. Ms. Alexander has been released on bond until a verdict is reached in her new trial that begins March 31, 2014. We hope the decision means that the Florida justice system has relented in its vindictive, hostile and racist legal assault on this African American mother of three. Ms. Alexander has been victimized twice -- once by her abusive ex-husband and again by the state of Florida, which has stolen nearly three years from her life for an act of self-defense that injured no one."
"We are thrilled that Ms. Alexander will be able to prepare for her new trial amid the support and love of her children and family from whom she has been separated far too long."
The State Attorney's Office also issued a response saying, "The State Attorney's Office made all statements regarding its position on bond in its written response dated November 13, 2013. The SAO will continue to seek justice for our two child victims and their father who were endangered by the shot the defendant fired at them. Any further comments regarding the prosecution of this defendant will be made in the proper venue-the courtroom."
The case began in August 2010 when Alexander was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault. Court records show she got into an argument with her estranged husband, Rico Gray, who, according to police reports, then shoved her.
Her defense said she fired a warning shot at Gray while he was with their two children. Prosecutors argued that Alexander fired a shot directly at Gray and the two children, endangering them.
In her original trial on the charge, a judge denied her 'Stand Your Ground' petition, saying it didn't apply because she left the house and willingly returned with the gun.
Alexander's next hearing is in January.