Former UM Football Player's Defense Seeks to Depose Detective Over Secret Social Media Bias

Former University of Miami football player Rashaun Jones, 40, is seeking another chance to depose Detective Juan Segovia after discovering the detective had a secret Instagram account where he made comments suggesting bias against Jones. The case involves Jones' trial for first-degree murder in connection with the death of his teammate Bryan Pata, who was shot and killed outside his apartment on November 7, 2006.

Jones’ defense team argues that Detective Segovia's social media activity undermines his credibility as a witness. They claim that Segovia used an Instagram account under the handle @balanceof_justice to publicly express opinions about Jones' guilt before and during the trial. According to Jones' attorneys, these posts included statements questioning the credibility of witnesses who testified in favor of the defense.

Judge Cristina Miranda, overseeing the case, was initially unconvinced by the defense's arguments regarding the impact of Segovia’s social media activity on jurors. She noted that her sequestration order did not explicitly forbid Detective Segovia from commenting online about his beliefs concerning Jones' guilt or innocence. However, she acknowledged that if there were a violation of the rule, it likely would not have influenced any of the jurors who sat during the trial.

The defense’s motion for further depositions and access to social media data was met with resistance from Assistant State Attorney Cristina Diamond, who argued against what she viewed as an invasion of privacy. She maintained that without evidence of a specific crime being committed, obtaining such information would require a warrant signed by a court for a criminal investigation.

The police department has launched its own inquiry into Detective Segovia's behavior following the defense’s discovery of his secret account. While this internal review remains ongoing, prosecutors have yet to provide details on whether it will escalate to a formal internal affairs investigation. The outcome of this inquiry is expected to play a significant role in determining how much additional information about the detective's social media activity should be made available to Jones’ defense team.

The case has garnered substantial attention due to its high-profile nature and the involvement of former professional athletes. Jones' retrial, which was declared a mistrial earlier this year when jurors could not reach a unanimous decision, is scheduled to begin on September 14. The defense's latest move aims to ensure they have all necessary evidence to challenge Detective Segovia’s testimony and potentially sway public perception regarding the officer’s impartiality.

As legal proceedings continue, both sides are now focused on gathering as much information as possible ahead of the retrial, with the outcome of this social media controversy likely to shape the narrative around the case.