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Former Florida data scientist Rebekah Jones was arrested for hacking into the state’s emergency response system – and later learned she had tested positive for COVID-19.
Jones – who said she was fired from the state Department of Health in May for refusing to change coronavirus data – surrendered on Sunday evening, The Tampa Bay Times reported.
Her attorney, Steve Dobson, said Jones, 31, was tested for COVID-19 after being enrolled in the Leon County detention center, and learned she was HIV-positive on Monday.
She is accused of illegally accessing Florida’s health alert system, including sending a message Nov. 10 to state personnel facing the pandemic, urging them to “speak up before 17,000 others nobody died ”.
“You know it’s wrong. You don’t have to be part of it. Be a hero. Speak up before it’s too late, ”the post read.
Authorities raided Jones’ home in December, seizing his computers and other data equipment.
Jones – who has sharply criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis’ handling of the pandemic and questioned the validity of the state’s COVID data – has maintained his innocence.
In a statement on Twitter on Saturday, she said there was an arrest warrant against her and that she would surrender “to protect my family from continued police violence and to show that I am ready to fight anything. ‘they throw me’.
“The governor will not win his war on science and free speech. It will not silence those who speak out, ”she wrote.
Jones has been charged with unauthorized access to a computer system, carrying a sentence of up to five years in prison.
She was released on Monday on $ 2,500 bail following a court appearance.
“We will vigorously defend this case,” said his lawyer.
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