FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A former Broward County deputy arrested in connection with a deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland has been released from jail.
56-year-old Scot Peterson refused to answer any questions as he walked out of the Broward County Jail around 3 p.m. on Thursday.
🔽 WATCH SCOT PETERSON RELEASED FROM JAIL 🔽
At a court hearing earlier in the day, Broward County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer reduced Peterson's bond to $39,500, down from his previous bond of $102,000.
🔽 WATCH COURT HEARING 🔽
Peterson will not have to wear a GPS ankle monitor and must surrender his passport within 48 hours, Judge Scherer ruled. He also cannot be employed in a job that involves minors.
"We believe Judge Scherer treated Mr. Peterson fairly and kindly," said Peterson's attorney, Joseph DiRuzzo, after the hearing.
🔽 WATCH STATEMENT FROM PETERSON'S ATTORNEY 🔽
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Peterson is facing charges of child neglect, culpable negligence, and perjury stemming from the Feb. 14, 2018 shooting that killed 14 children and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
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At Thursday's court hearing, DiRuzzo said Peterson's passport is at his home in North Carolina, and his significant other has traveled to that state to get it and return it to Florida.
Peterson's legal team argued for a reduced bond, saying the former deputy is not a flight risk, is not a danger to the community, and has no criminal history.
DiRuzzo also told Judge Scherer that Peterson should not face the neglect and negligence charges because he was not legally a "caregiver" with direct responsibility for the students at MSD.
According to his arrest warrant, "Deputy Scot Peterson, while acting as a caregiver, willfully neglected; [REDACTED] by failing to immediately take action, as he was trained and as is required of a caregiver, to stop the active shooter, Nikolas Cruz."
The warrant went onto say Peterson "in failing to, or refusing to, address Nikolas Cruz' actions, exhibited a reckless indifference to or grossly careless disregard for others."
🔽 READ SCOT PETERSON'S ARREST WARRANT 🔽
Judge Elizabeth Scherer is the same judge overseeing the trial of 20-year-old Nikolas Cruz, the suspected Parkland school shooter.
WPTV and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
