Another day, another upsetting chapter in the saga of embattled Miami pol Michelle Spence-Jones.
The suspended city commissioner turned herself into authorities this morning to face charges of bribery, making an appearance iin a Miami-Dade courtroom where she received her arraignment date -- March 18th.
Spence-Jones walked into the courthouse shortly before 11:30 a.m., a day after she was indicted by a Miami-Dade grand jury for allegedly taking $25,000 from a developer in return for her help in securing votes.
According to prosecutors, Spence-Jones approached the MDM Hotel Group and the Codina Group to "donate" funds to an entity of her choice in 2006. In return, she would vote to extend the name "Brickell Avenue" further north along SE 2nd Street in downtown.
The $25,000 was put into an account that Spence-Jones could access, prosecutors alleged. The grand jury also delivered an indictment of grand theft.
Spence-Jones -- entourage in-tow -- didn't speak as she turned herself in. The hearing lasted about 15 minutes, and at its conclusion, Spence-Jones was handcuffed and hauled away to Miami-Dade County jail for processing.
"God be the glory," was all she said as officers escorted her out past her husband, brother and other friends and relatives.
"The reality is I will have my day in court to prove that I'm innocent not only of this current charge," Spence-Jones said later, "but the one that they claim there is something else also."
Her lawyer, Peter Raben, concurred.
"She's told you a hundred times she's going to fight this case - she's told you a hundred times she's innocent and she'll be back."
The judge is allowing Spence-Jones to stay free on bond on the $12,500 she posted for her previous grand theft charge.
Spence-Jones, 42, was arrested in November for allegedly using $50,000 in public money to help fund her family's restaurant and spa businesses.
She's locked in battle with Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who has already suspended her from office twice.
The first suspension came in November, when Spence-Jones turned herself in to authorities to face the charges of grand theft. The second suspension came in mid-January, after Spence-Jones won back her seat in a special election but Crist decided to suspended her again anyway. Spence-Jones then sued the Governor, but a judge upheld the suspension.
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Spence-Jones has appealed, but a civil court judge has yet to make a final decision in the case.
"A blind man can see that the only reason this happened," Spence-Jones said regarding her lawsuit against the governor, "is because they know we're going to be victorious in the courtroom next week."
