Florida data scientist Rebekah Jones was arrested on charges of hacking the state’s emergency response system and later learned she tested positive for COVID-19.
Jones, who said she was fired from the state Department of Health in May for refusing to modify coronavirus data, turned herself in late Sunday, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
His lawyer, Steve Dobson, said Jones, 31, took the COVID-19 test after being admitted to the Leon County Detention Center and learned it was positive Monday.
She has been accused of illegally accessing Florida’s health emergency alert system, including sending a Nov. 10 message to state officials dealing with the pandemic, and urging them to to “speak before another 17,000 people die.”
“It simply came to our notice then. You don’t have to be a part of it. Be a hero. Talk before it’s too late, ”the message read.
Authorities raided Jones’ home in December, confiscating his computers and other data equipment.
Jones, who has been a vocal critic of pandemic management by Gov. Ron DeSantis and questioned the validity of the state’s COVID data, maintained his innocence.
In a statement on Twitter on Saturday, he said there was an order for his arrest and that he would surrender “to protect my family from continued police violence and to show that I am ready to fight whatever they throw at me.”
“The governor will not win his war against science and freedom of expression. He will not silence those who speak, ”he wrote.
Jones was charged with unauthorized access to a computer system, with a sentence of up to five years in prison.
She was released Monday on $ 2,500 bail after a court appearance.
“We will vigorously defend this case,” his lawyer said.