Russell Bruce Moncrief, 75, faces counts of human trafficking and racketeering over ‘sickening scheme’

Russell Bruce Moncrief, 75, faces counts of human trafficking and racketeering over ‘sickening scheme’

A bail bondsman is facing criminal charges in Florida for allegedly approaching incarcerated women and offering to bond them out if they give him sex in return.

Russell Bruce Moncrief faces counts of human trafficking and racketeering – along with accusations that he used his authority within the criminal justice system to prey on particularly vulnerable women, said a recent news release from the office of the state’s attorney general, Ashley Moody.

Moody’s office said Moncrief, 75, would target women jailed on accusations involving sex work or drugs, including in Orange county, where Orlando is. He would propose posting their bonds to await the outcomes of their cases from out of custody if they agreed to have sex with him afterward, Moody’s office alleged.

  • EleventhHour@lemmy.world
    0·
    14 days ago

    Well…

    The concept of “bail” is to provide surety that the accused will return for trial. This is supposed to be scaled to what the accused can both afford to pay, yet wouldn’t want to forfeit, motivating them to participate in their trial rather than fleeing.

    Of course, it is hardly used in that manner.

    I’m interested in hearing alternatives, but as it stands, the system is not working equitably because of minimum bail laws for certain crimes, etc. and inequitable judges refuse to use it in the manner for which it was intended.

    So, what would you suggest as an alternative for someone accused of a crime to provide surety that they will return for their trial rather than flee?

    • ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca
      1·
      14 days ago

      In Canada, our Charter of Rights and Freedoms says anyone accused of a crime is innocent until found guilty and therefore cannot be held in custody unless the state can convince the court that releasing them would be a danger to the public.

      Which sounds great, but bail is often denied because courts are easily convinced someone is a danger to the public. There is also a surety system but that’s to ensure someone follows bail conditions. If the court agrees to grant a conditional bail, the accused needs someone to act as their surety. If the accused breaks conditions, and the surety doesn’t immediately report it, the surety will be required to pay the court a very large fine. Not being able to find a surety is a common reason for bail being denied.