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Bond Denied For Woman Suspected In Murder-For-Hire

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: February 27, 2009

Jacqucia Francois

BROOKSVILLE - Bond was denied on Thursday for a woman accused of hiring hit-men to kill her husband.

Jacqucia Francois has been held at the county jail since December on charges that include conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Investigators say she enlisted three Orlando men to murder her husband so she could collect the assets they shared.

Her lawyers argued Thursday that Circuit Judge Jack Springstead should set her bond at no higher than $75,000.

Springstead, however, sided with the prosecution, saying that Francois, 46, was a flight risk and that her release would endanger her husband.

"Given the seriousness of the charge, the bond status will remain unchanged," Springstead said.

His decision was based in part on the testimony of Detective Philip Lakin, who took the stand Thursday to narrate the chain of events leading up to Francois' arrest. His investigation began Nov. 18, when deputies were sent to the Francois home on Nightwalker Road to investigate a "home invasion."

Francois maintained three men had broken into the house while she was away and held her 13-year-old son captive at gunpoint. Her story had several holes, however, beginning with the fact neighbors had seen her arguing in the front yard with one of the "burglars."

Over the following days, Lakin and a team of detectives determined Francois had hired the men from Orlando to kill her husband. She denied knowing the people involved, but was caught in her lies when detectives placed her under surveillance and reviewed phone records, Lakin testified.

Francois' lawyers argued that their client had never confessed to the actual crime. Instead, her arrest warrant is based on what they consider the shaky testimony of the co-defendants.

Esnel Baptiste and Frans Guerrier witnessed, but did not hear, the alleged negotiations between Francois and her Orlando contact, Kedner Noel. Noel has altered his statements three times since his arrest.

Also in court on Thursday:

Phony Pediatrician Takes Probation

A man accused of misrepresenting himself as a pediatrician received three years of probation. An anonymous complaint led detectives to review Gary Lloyd's Web site promoting the "Florida Pediatric Group."

After gathering more evidence, a detective placed a recorded phone call to the "doctor's office" to set up an appointment for a fictitious son.

Lloyd, 50, answered and said his practice was established in his north Hernando County home on Yellowlegs Drive.

But it was not operating yet because of a "disagreement with the state," according to an affidavit.

On Thursday, Assistant State Attorney Rob Lewis said there was no evidence that Lloyd actually examined any children.

Lloyd's original felony charge of unlicensed practice of a medical profession was reduced to three first-degree misdemeanors, including unlawful use of a badge.

Trial To Start For Man Accused Of Sex With Teen

A 48-year-old man accused of carrying on a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl is scheduled to stand trial on Monday.

Bill Plowman, who is being held on a $220,000 bond, is charged with nine counts of lewd and lascivious battery. He has steadfastly maintained his innocence since his arrest.

The evidence against Plowman includes graphic love letters written to the victim and photos of the trysts that supposedly left the girl pregnant. Plowman's face is not visible in the photos, but there's a surgical scar on his thigh that proves it's him, investigators say.

When he was eventually arrested, a tattoo covered that scar.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

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