Tavernier man charged with battery after allegedly spitting on prosecutors in Plantation Key courtroom
A Tavernier resident who had been serving a 10-year sentence for a probation violation now faces an additional battery charge after reportedly spitting on two assistant state attorneys during an Oct. 24 hearing at the Plantation Key Courthouse. The episode, which occurred as the defendant was being restrained and led from the courtroom, underscores concerns about courtroom safety and the enforcement of no‑contact orders in domestic‑violence cases that affect Monroe County residents.
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A hearing at the Plantation Key Courthouse on Oct. 24 ended abruptly when a Tavernier man allegedly spat on two assistant state attorneys while being restrained, according to authorities. Court officers cuffed and removed the defendant from the courtroom, and prosecutors have added a battery charge to his existing case.
The defendant had already been sentenced to a 10-year term after a probation violation related to an underlying matter involving prior domestic‑violence-related offenses and a series of no‑contact violations. Those earlier breaches were central to the original prosecution and to the probation action that resulted in the longer sentence, local officials say. The new charge stems from the courtroom incident and will be litigated in addition to the pending matters tied to the domestic‑violence allegations.
Courtroom safety and the orderly administration of justice came under immediate strain by the incident. Disruptive behavior that targets prosecutors inside the courthouse can delay proceedings, strain limited prosecutorial resources in a small jurisdiction, and increase pressure on court security personnel who already manage a steady caseload of criminal and civil matters across Monroe County. The Plantation Key Courthouse serves the Upper Keys community, where residents expect hearings to proceed without threats to personnel or to victims who may be present.
For victims of domestic violence in Monroe County, the incident highlights the fragility of no‑contact protections when alleged offenders continue to violate court-imposed restrictions. No-contact orders and probation conditions are principal tools for protecting survivors and maintaining public safety; repeated violations can erode community confidence in the effectiveness of those measures and in the court system’s ability to enforce them.
The additional battery charge for assaulting legal personnel carries separate legal exposure that prosecutors may factor into sentencing recommendations if the defendant is convicted. In practical terms, courtroom incidents like this can prompt reviews of security protocols, reallocation of staff time, and potential delays in the calendar for other cases. For a county the size of Monroe, those disruptions can have outsized effects on victims waiting for resolution, defense counsel preparing cases, and on victims’ advocates who support individuals through the court process.
The Plantation Key Courthouse remains open, and routine hearings proceed under the oversight of local law enforcement and Court Administration. The new charge adds another chapter to a case already marked by domestic‑violence allegations and repeated violations of court orders, underscoring the local stakes for enforcement and for community safety as the prosecution moves forward.
