FL - Jared Bridegan, 33, father of 4, ambushed & killed, Jacksonville Beach, 16 Feb 2022 *3 arrests, 1 guilty* #2

[Niner]

‘Major issue for Florida’: Legal expert weighs in after Henry Tenon withdraws guilty plea in Jared Bridegan case

Henry Tenon, the man who pleaded guilty to pulling the trigger in the 2022 murder-for-hire killing of Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach, is now seeking to withdraw his guilty plea.

www.news4jax.com

Feb. 13, 2026
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Henry Tenon, the man who pleaded guilty to pulling the trigger in the 2022 murder-for-hire killing of Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach, is now seeking to withdraw his guilty plea.

This unexpected move could significantly impact the prosecution’s case against Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez, who are accused of orchestrating the murder.

Tenon submitted a three-page motion to withdraw his plea on Friday morning, but the document offers little explanation beyond his refusal to testify against Gardner and Fernandez. He has not claimed coercion, threats, misunderstanding of his rights, or any other common reasons for reversing a plea.
[.....]
A status hearing is scheduled for Feb. 17 at 9 a.m. Tenon’s current attorney has not responded to requests for comment, and the state attorney’s office deferred questions about the motion to the upcoming hearing.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, February 17th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL - Jared Galen Bridegan (33), father of 4 ambushed & killed (shot 4 times), his 2-year-old daughter was just feet away in the back seat, Jacksonville Beach, Feb. 16, 2022. *Henry Arthur Tenon (61/now 65) arrested (1/25/23) & charged (1/26/23) & arraigned (2/16/23) with conspiracy to commit murder in the 1st degree, 2nd degree murder with a weapon, accessory to the fact to a capital felony & child abuse. Plead not guilty. Held without bond (murder) & $1.5M (other counts). Duval County
Trial was set to begin on 7/19/23 was cancelled, Tenon plead guilty (3/16/23) to 2nd degree murder. Sentencing hearing on 6/14/23 was vacated & rescheduled on 7/12/23 & was vacated. Filed motion (2/13/26) to change guilty plea to not guilty.
2nd case ID #16-2022-CF-008168-AXXX-MA for Driving while license suspended or revoked-Felony & unlawful speed (requires speed). Hearings running concurrent with murder case.
Judge London M. Kite presiding. Asst. State attorney Christina Simak & Asst. Public Defender Joshua I. Goldborough & Jlie Agent Schlax for murder case. Asst. Public Defender Matthew Barrett Hoover Bodie for driving case.
Case & Court info from 2/16/22 thru 9/8/25 reference post #899 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-feb-2022-3-arrests-1-guilty-2.689030/page-45
12/2/25 Update: Status hearing held with Judge London M. Kite presiding.. Defendant present in jail. Attorney for defendant Julie Schlax & Asst. State attorney Christina Simak Stifler present. Next status hearing on 1/12/26 @ 9am.
1/12/26 Update: Status hearing held with Judge London M. Kite presiding. Present: Assistant State attorney Christina Simak Stifler defense attorney Julie Agent Schlsx with defendant present in jail. Next status hearing on 4/7/26 @ 9am.
2/13/26 Update: In a motion filed Friday morning, Tenon said he “will not testify against Gardner or Saldana. Mr. Tenon is seeking to withdraw his previously entered plea of guilty & proceed to trial.” TThe State Attorney’s Office responded, “We are going defer comment until the actual hearing.” Tenon’s attorney, Julie Schlax, declined to comment. Prosecutors initially said they would seek the death penalty in the case but withdrew the death filing last November. Tenon’s original plea deal reduced his charges to second-degree murder with a recommendation of the lesser penalty of 15 years in prison, in exchange for his testimony against Saldana & Gardner. It’s not clear how the motion will affect the state’s case. A hearing on the motion is set for 2/17/26.
*Mario Enrique Fernandez Saldana (34/now 37) – Next Pretrial hearing on 3/6/26.
*Shanna Gardner Fernandez (36/now 38) – Next Pretrial hearing on 3/6/26.