Failed Dem candidate in Florida who accused Gov. DeSantis of cooking COVID numbers pleads 'no contest' to criminal charges involving 'revenge porn' of ex-boyfriend

A Florida Democrat who gained national notoriety for her public feuds with several Republicans in her state, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Rep. Matt Gaetz, will now serve probation for allegedly posting "revenge porn" of her ex-lover.

On Wednesday, Rebekah Jones, who was soundly defeated by incumbent Rep. Gaetz in the 2022 Congressional election for Florida's first district, pled no contest to a cyberstalking charge related to incidents that began several years ago. It appears that at least five years ago, Jones and an unidentified ex-boyfriend had a very bad break-up. Tensions between them continued to such an extent that her ex filed for — and was granted — a temporary injunction against her.

That injunction expired in June 2019. According to the man, almost immediately after it expired, Jones began posting nude photos of him and sharing those photos with his employer and his family and friends. She also reportedly wrote a 68-page summary of their relationship, which she also posted online. Reports indicate that Jones believed the man to be the father of one of her children.

As a result of the accusations of "revenge porn," Jones was arrested and charged with cyberstalking. Now, after her no-contest plea, she has been sentenced to serve one year of probation. She also must avoid all contact with the victim, pay about $275 in court and prosecution fees, and complete a Victim Awareness Program and Batterers Intervention Program.

Jones' version of events related to her ex differs considerably from those given in news reports. In a lengthy tweet thread, which she posted on Thursday, Jones positioned herself as the real victim in the case. She claimed that, six years ago, her ex "sexually assaulted" her at Florida State University, where she was then working as an instructor. He then enrolled in her class "to keep tabs" on her. She also accused the man of stalking her, posting "intimate photos" of her online, sending her frequent texts describing his "rape fantasies," and threatening to harm himself if she "left or didn't do what he wanted." She claimed she reported the abuse to police, who "took minimal action against him."

In the thread, Jones hinted that she pled no contest so that the entire ordeal would finally be "over." However, she also seems confused about some of the details. She claimed that when she moves out of the state in a few weeks, she will leave "with no convictions, no guilty pleas,& no criminal record." Yet a no-contest plea, such as the one she submitted in the cyberstalking case, is considered a de facto conviction.

She was also "ordered to admit guilt" to cybersecurity charges for allegedly accessing Florida's COVID-19 data illegally in 2020 while working for the state's Department of Health. In the spring of 2020, Jones publicly attacked Gov. DeSantis for his handling of COVID and claimed she had been ordered to "manually change [COVID] data to drum up support for the plan to reopen."

DeSantis denied that accusation. "She was putting data on the portal which the scientists didn't believe was valid data," he said. "So she didn't listen to the people who were her superiors. ... Any insinuation otherwise is just typical partisan narrative trying to be spun."

At the time, the governor also made reference to the accusations of "revenge porn" leveled by Jones' ex. "Come to find out she's also under active criminal charges in the state of Florida. She's being charged with cyber-stalking and cyber sexual harassment," DeSantis said of Jones in 2020.

She was soon afterward fired from her position and charged with cybersecurity offenses in 2021. In a deal reached with prosecutors last December, Jones agreed to a "deferred prosecution," which allowed her to avoid a trial as long as she admitted guilt, paid a $20,000 fine, performed community service, worked with a mental health professional, and avoided future arrests for two years. If she fulfills those obligations, she will avoid formal conviction for the cybersecurity charges.

Data scientist Rebekah Jones arrested in Floridawww.youtube.com

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!