The District 30 State Representative Says State Attorney Aramis Ayala
owes an explanation to the victims of Markeith Loyd’s heinous crimes.
In case you missed it, State Representative Bob Cortes released the following statement yesterday regarding State Attorney Aramis Ayala’s decision to not seek the death penalty in the case of Markeith Loyd:
“I am outraged by the decision of State Attorney Aramis Ayala not to seek the death penalty in the case of Markeith Loyd. This is a decision that should be arrived at by a jury of Markeith Loyd’s peers, and to take it off the table is a slap in the face to his victims and to the wider law enforcement community.
“Heinous crimes like the ones committed by Mr. Loyd are the reason our law allows for the death penalty. Because we believe life is precious, justice for taking innocent life must be done. Senate Bill 280, which Governor Scott recently signed, helps to ensure the integrity of our system by requiring jury decisions for the death penalty be unanimous. It is why the decision whether a person should live or die should be the decision of twelve jurors, not the personal feeling of a State Attorney.
“I have reached out to the Members of the Florida Legislature and our staff about the possibility of drafting legislation to ensure that our laws are followed. I am also seeking whether this is a possible violation of public integrity by our State Attorney.
“The State Attorney owes the people an explanation for this appalling decision. But more importantly, she owes an explanation to the families of Lt. Clayton, Sade Dixon, her baby, and the men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to protect us and all the residents of the state of Florida.”
About Bob Cortes for State Representative
Bob was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2014. Previously, he served as mayor of Longwood and on the Longwood City Commission beginning in November 2009. In 2012, he was re-elected to a second term. He is a member of the Seminole County Community Traffic Safety Team and a graduate of the Florida League of Cities Institute for Elected Municipal Officials. He is a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). With this organization, Bob has participated in several institutes, including the Newly Elected Leadership Institute, the Redistricting Institute, and the Fiscal Policy Institute hosted by NALEO and the Kellogg School of Business. Bob grew up in New York and Puerto Rico and moved to Central Florida in 1989. He founded Cortes Towing Service, a successful small business now in operation for over two decades. In 2011, he started another venture, Cortrans Shuttle Service, a transportation provider that serves Orlando Sanford International Airport, Orlando International Airport, the Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal, and area attractions. He was recently named one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando. He and his wife, Virginia, are members of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs. They are blessed with three grandchildren.
ON THE WEB: www.bobcortes.com
