When many married couples decide to end their marriage and seek a divorce, they do so amicably. Decisions involving child custody and support, debt and asset division, and, if applicable, spousal support are made in a calm and respectful manner. Unfortunately, not all divorces end amicably, especially when child custody issues are at stake.
One South Florida father, Jason D. Simione, made the drastic decision to hire a hit man if he did not receive custody of his child.
Authorities believe that the 39-year-old Florida business owner of Bulldog Tactical Equipment in Ft. Lauderdale, was seeking a gang member from El Salvador to kill his wife, his mother-in-law and his brother-in-law if he did not gain custody of his child. Detective Ricky Libman of the Broward Sheriff’s Office said at a conference that Simione offered $150,000 for the kill on his family members.
Detective Libman described Simione of Dania Beach as a survivalist, who stockpiled not only food, but guns and bomb making materials as well.
Not only is Simione accused of hiring a hit man to kill his own family, but he is also accused of threatening the life of President Barack Obama, as well.
Detective Libman stated that Simione made statements to him as well as to his employees how dissatisfied and unhappy he is with the president and our government’s policy.
Detective Libman said Simione’s wife reported that he had abused the couple’s nine-month old child by throwing him onto a table. His wife also said Simione had been displaying paranoid behavior, which included delusions and violent outbursts. This behavior could have been caused by Simione abusing illegal steroids.
Simione, who was arrested and charged with three counts of solicitation to commit first-degree murder, one count of threatening to throw, place or discharge a destructive device and one count of child abuse, was brought to court before Broward Judge John Hurley on Tuesday morning. Hurley stated, “The court is very concerned on a number of levels. Number one is his alleged willingness to hire a hit man to kill everyone in his family including his own child.”
Hurley continued by saying that Simione’s employees had said that their employer had threatened the President of the United States numerous times, had approached an employee for assistance in finding someone to kill his family, had been witnessed taking steroids, and had been stockpiling firearms, ammunition and bomb-making materials.
Prosecutors said during Tuesday’s hearing that Simione was worth between $2 to $9 million. Judge Hurley set his bond at $5 million.
Simione’s attorney, David Bogenschutz, argued for a lesser bond saying Simione had been a Florida resident a long time. “He is in the middle of a divorce and it’s a pretty contentious divorce,” Bogenschutz said.
Simione will have to wear a GPS monitor if he is able to post bond. His wife has obtained a protection order against him, which means he must stay away from both his wife and his child.
Divorce can be a difficult, emotional time in the lives of all involved, especially children. When there are child custody issues in a divorce, it helps to have a caring, aggressive family law attorney on your side. An experienced, competent Florida attorney can help you settle your divorce amicably and protect your relationship with your children, too.