Judge will allow Marissa Alexander to stay out of jail on bond

Jacksonville's Marissa Alexander will be allowed to stay out of jail and remain on bond, but with tighter restrictions.

The State Attorney's office wrote in a motion earlier this week to revoke her bond, arguing she violated the terms of her pretrial release by running errands while on home detention.

Prosecutors argued at a hearing Friday morning the bond order was "clear and specific," and none of Alexander's excursions complied.

Accoring to our partner Action News, JSO employee April Wilson told the judge she believed she was following a court order in letting Alexander go shopping.

Wilson said she approved the shopping trip because Alexander needed appropriate clothes for court.  Wilson also said she gave Alexander permission to run errands to the bank, airport and eye doctor, saying she makes a judgment call when defendants ask to go places.

Alexander's attorney said his client had no reason to believe the permission given to her by Wilson went outside the scope of the rules for her bond.

The judge said Alexander did not violate the terms of her bond, but did say mistakes were made.  A supplemental order will be issued to tighten the rules of release.

Alexander is awaiting a new trial in her aggravated assault case, in which she received a 20-year prison sentence. She is accused of firing a gun at her estranged husband and his children.  A Florida appeals court ordered a new trial, ruling the trial judge did not properly instruct the jury handling the case.