Ashley Benefield asks court for release after conviction. Judge announces key decision
Ashley Benefield, the Lakewood Ranch woman convicted of manslaughter for killing her husband, will remain in prison while she awaits the outcome of her appeal.
A Manatee County judge denied Benefield’s request for release on bond, ruling that she must stay in custody during the appeals process, according to court records. In an eight-page ruling, the judge determined that Benefield’s legal team did not meet the legal criteria to be approved for a bond release.
Benefield, 33, sought bond while her appeal is pending after being sentenced in December to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting her husband, Doug Benefield, at her Lakewood Ranch home in September 2020.
Judge Matt Whyte denied the request, citing the severity of Benefield’s sentence, her limited ties to the community and the nature of the crime, ruling that she posed a flight risk.
Benefield’s defense told the Bradenton Herald that they “respectfully disagreed” with the decision, arguing that her compliance with pretrial supervision before trial showed she was not a flight risk.
“We believe that Ashley is entitled to be released on bond based on her history of complying with the conditions of her release and her strong ties to the local community, including her mother and daughter,” said William Ponall, Benefield’s appellate attorney. “There is no danger that she will flee the jurisdiction because she remains committed to exonerating herself.”
Benefield sought release during appeal
Benefield’s defense filed an appeal of her manslaughter conviction in October the Bradenton Herald previously reported. The bond request was part of a motion for post-conviction release, which, if granted, would have allowed Benefield to remain free while the appeal process plays out. Now that the motion has been denied, Ponall said the defense may appeal Whyte’s bond decision.
Benefield stood trial in July, where her defense argued she acted in self-defense after Doug Benefield became physically aggressive. Prosecutors, however, claimed she planned the killing to gain full custody of her young daughter.
But a jury did not believe Ashley’s self-defense claims and convicted her of manslaughter with a firearm.
Months later, Benefield appeared in a Manatee County courtroom on Jan. 23 for a bond hearing, seeking release while her appeal is pending. After listening to testimony from her supporters and arguments from both legal teams, Whyte announced he would issue a written ruling at a later date.
Tears welled in Benefield’s eyes as Jana Martin, a friend from her Bible study group, spoke in her defense. Martin insisted Benefield would not be a flight risk and offered to supervise her if the judge allowed her release.
“If the judge’s heart would see it, it would be an honor to be a custodian,” Martin said.
Martin urged Whyte to grant Benefield bond, saying she had no doubt her friend would follow all court-ordered conditions.
“Absolutely never,” Martin said when asked if Benefield might flee. “I believe with all my heart she would be obedient.”
Prosecutors strongly opposed Benefield’s release. Assistant State Attorney Suzanne O’Donnell told the court that Benefield had a clear motive to avoid returning to prison if she lost her appeal.
“She knows if she loses this appeal she has to turn herself in,” O’Donnell said. “She was willing to kill a human being to meet this goal. There is nothing to prevent her, if the appeal doesn’t come in her favor, from deciding she won’t present herself.”
Doug Benefield’s cousin, Tommie Benefield, also spoke against the bond request, reminding the judge that Ashley Benefield had been out on bond for nearly four years before her trial.
“It’s almost 90% of the time since the killing she’s been out of jail,” he said.
Judge denies Benefield’s bond release
After considering the arguments, Whyte ruled that Benefield’s bond request did not meet the necessary legal criteria.
Florida law outlines specific factors a judge must weigh when deciding whether to grant post-conviction release. These include whether the appeal presents legitimate legal questions, the defendant’s respect for the law, their connections to the local community, the severity of the sentence and the potential risk of flight.
According to court records, Whyte acknowledged that while Benefield’s manslaughter conviction was serious, it was not a capital crime and did not automatically disqualify her from post-trial bond. He also noted she had no prior criminal history or pending charges.
The judge found that her appeal raised “fairly debatable and not frivolous” legal issues but ultimately denied her release, citing concerns that she posed a flight risk. He emphasized that the prospect of serving a 20-year sentence could strongly motivate her to flee if her appeal was unsuccessful.
Whyte also determined Benefield’s ties to the community would not be strong enough to keep her in the area. While supporters cited her mother and young daughter as reasons for her to stay, Whyte noted she could take them with her if she fled. He also pointed out that Benefield does not own property or have a long-term job, making relocation easier.
The judge also highlighted Benefield’s close bond with her daughter, suggesting it could increase her incentive to flee rather than return to prison and miss “many important milestones and events” in the child’s life.
Court records show that in December, Whyte ordered Benefield to remain at the Manatee County Central Jail until her bond hearing before being transferred to the Florida Department of Corrections. As of Tuesday, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office still lists her in custody at the county jail and court records do not yet show a transfer order.
With bond denied, Benefield is expected to be moved to state prison, where she will remain while her appeal proceeds.
