Orange judge grants Bob Ward $1M bond
James “Bob” Ward, who has been in prison since a 2011 murder conviction in the death of his wife, can leave the Orange County Jail while he waits for a new trial if he can post a $1 million bond, a circuit judge ruled Friday.
If Ward, a 69-year-old former millionaire who made his fortune in real-estate development, can come up with the money, he will not be allowed to leave Orange County without a judge’s permission and will be required to check in with his bail bondsman once a week. He will not be allowed to possess weapons or a passport.
Ward’s second-degree murder conviction in the 2009 death of Diane Ward was thrown out after a judge ruled that his lawyers did not properly object to evidence relating to Ward’s right to remain silent. Diane was found shot in the face in the couple’s Isleworth home after Ward called 911 and said “She’s dead. She’s done. I’m sorry.”
His attorneys are now arguing that Diane Ward pointed the gun at him, and that it fired while they were struggling over it.
Ward’s attorney, Sean Ellsworth, said Ward’s two adult daughters were “pleased” with the decision. Both testified in court last week and said they wanted to see their father released.
“We’re going to do everything in our power” to come up with the bond and find a place for Ward to live in Orange County, he said.
The $1 million bond is higher than the $100,000 bond that Ward’s attorneys requested, and the bond he was given before his first trial. That bond was later raised to $500,000 as the court granted Ward permission to travel out of Florida under certain conditions.
“Certainly, his financial circumstances have changed since the last trial,” Ellsworth said.
Last week, Diane Ward’s sister Paula Saare testified that any money Ward used to have is now in a trust for his two daughters, Mallory and Sarah Ward. All three testified that they did not know how much money was in the trust, but Mallory and Sarah Ward said they would be willing to use the money to help their father’s defense.