JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville attorney charged with conspiracy and solicitation in 2023 would have to await his trial behind bars after his bond was revoked.
Nah-Deh Simmons had been out on bond for two years, but last week a motion to revoke his bond was granted. He was booked into the Duval County Jail on Dec. 10 on charges that include conspiracy to commit perjury and solicitation to commit perjury.
The motion alleged Simmons tampered with witnesses in a federal case while on pretrial release. He is accused of visiting inmates, advising them not to cooperate with their lawyers, delivering notes between them, and providing money to their jail accounts. Simmons also allegedly misrepresented himself as their attorney without permission.
Shannon Schott, a Jacksonville attorney not involved in the case, explained how bond conditions work.
“Bonds are intended to ensure that someone is going to come back to court, and they are not going to be a danger in the community by engaging in additional criminal behavior, particularly criminal behavior in furtherance of the crime they are alleged to have committed,” Schott said. “In this case specifically, Mr. Simmons is alleged to have continued to do what he is being charged with, which is very problematic and contrary to the terms and conditions of his bond.”
Simmons’ perjury charges stem from a 2021 homicide case in which he represented a male co-defendant. According to the arrest report, Simmons visited a female co-defendant multiple times without her attorney’s consent and encouraged her to lie under oath.
Schott noted that it is highly unusual for an attorney, especially a criminal defense lawyer, to face such charges.
“I think particularly because this is a criminal defense attorney and he was very, very aware of what the rules were, what the rules are, and what his penalty would be and his consequences would be if he engaged in this activity. So it’s very sad to see a colleague go down this path,” she said.
According to Schott, many criminal defense lawyers are connected to the case either directly or indirectly because they represent people affected by the case or whose cases were impacted.
“So, it’s very jarring to even be having this conversation about one of my colleagues who has been known in the legal community and who has represented many, many people,” Schott said. “But unfortunately, lawyers sometimes also can be accused of crimes.”
Simmons is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Dec. 17 at 9 a.m.