Today (July 12) the Fifth District Court of Appeals issued it's Opinion upholding the ruling of Circuit Judge Marlene Alva from March 9, 2018, ordering a new trial for Mitchell NEEDELMAN on all charged counts.

NEEDELMAN was found guilty of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, bid tampering and official misconduct in October of 2017, however, allegations of possible juror misconduct surfaced immediately after the conviction. A subsequent inquiry by the Court confirmed some members of the jury had engaged in inappropriate conduct resulting in Judge Alva's order for a new trial on all charges.

Then Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi appealed the ruling, conceding the juror conduct did warrant a new trial on the bribery counts, however the Court exceeded it's discretion in ordering a new trial on the counts of bid tampering and official misconduct as there was no evidence those convictions were affected. The Appellate Court did not agree.

The State will now begin preparing to re-try Mr. NEEDELMAN on all four of the original felony counts. No trial date has been set and Mr. NEEDELMANN remains out of custody on a $17,000 bond posted in March of 2018.

Todd Brown
Public Information &
Communications
(321) 617-7310

Office of the State Attorney
18th Judicial Circuit
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson
Way Building D
Viera, Fl. 32940