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Henry Tenon, who had earlier admitted to a charge of second-degree murder, is now attempting to prevent his plea statements from being used in court. He is invoking protections under Florida law related to plea discussions.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Henry Tenon, who had confessed to the murder of Jared Bridegan from St. Augustine, a father of four, in a case described by authorities as a contract killing, has submitted a legal motion to exclude his guilty plea from being presented in his upcoming trial.
In 2023, Tenon accepted a plea deal for second-degree murder, agreeing to a sentence that could see him serve between 15 years to life imprisonment.
However, Tenon retracted his guilty plea in February and is now preparing to face trial.
The motion, filed on Thursday, emphasizes that under Florida law, statements made during plea negotiations are strictly inadmissible in any criminal case.
It goes on to say the purpose of the rule is to “promote free and open plea negotiations without fear that a defendant’s statements will later be used against him at trial”.Â
His next court appearance is Monday, March 23.
Bridegan was shot and killed in Jacksonville Beach on Feb. 16, 2022, in what investigators say was an ambush killing tied to a “murder-for-hire” plot.