NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – Patrick McDowell, the man accused of killing Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers in 2021, is expected to plead guilty to first-degree murder in a disposition hearing Friday, according to the Nassau County Clerk of Courts.
The State Attorney’s Office said when that happens, the case will move to the penalty phase.
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McDowell is charged with first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer. He also faces a charge of injuring a police dog and eight counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
In October 2021, the Attorney’s Office said it would seek the death penalty if he was convicted of the murder of Moyers. McDowell’s defense team filed 20 motions in June 2022 one of which included asking the judge to block prosecutors from seeking the death penalty, declaring Florida’s death penalty law unconstitutional, and declaring lethal injection cruel and unusual punishment.
When News4JAX asked the attorney’s office if McDowell would plead to the indictment or if a plea would be accepted, the Attorney’s Office issued the following statement:
“If McDowell were to enter a plea to the indictment on March 10, the State will continue to seek the death penalty. The determination as to whether the defendant will be sentenced to death would occur during separate penalty phase proceedings.”