JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It was expected that Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez would be face-to-face in their first joint court hearing since their arrests, but they were brought into the Duval County courthouse separately.
Gardner and Fernandez are both accused of taking part in an elaborate plot to lure Gardner's ex-husband, Jared Bridegan, to the site of his murder in Jacksonville Beach in 2022. Gardner, 36, and Fernandez, 35, both face charges of first-degree murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony, conspiracy to commit murder, and child abuse, according to jail records. A man named Henry Tenon has also been charged in relation to the plot, as Tenon pleaded guilty to killing Bridegan.
Gardner went before the judge first Friday. She was dressed in civilian clothing and was unshackled before her hearing began.
Gardner waved her right to a speedy trial. Her hearing was relatively short and when bailiffs went to bring in Fernandez, her estranged, second husband, Gardner was told to sit to the side and then was taken out of the courtroom.
Fernandez did not appear to look at her as he walked past.
Fernandez was still in his jail attire and was shackled during his appearance. Much of the time spent in his hearing centered around the motion the defense filed saying privileged emails and information were uploaded and improperly shared.
The State Attorney's Office has said it was unintentional and the emails were never looked at or opened by the State Attorney's Office or law enforcement.
But, there does appear to be one document in contention and the judge said she takes attorney/client privilege very seriously. The judge offered to have an independent circuit judge hear the arguments about that document which would shield even her from hearing privileged information.
Fernandez's next court appearance on Dec. 11. Gardner's is on Feb. 2, 2024.
