A motion to dismiss linked to a plea deal won’t keep two Jacksonville women from possibly going to jail. Circuit Judge John Madonia quashed the motion to dismiss by 64 year old Joyce Gill and her daughter 39 year old Jewel Maul in court yesterday, saying the 2015 Andrew Maul murder plea bargain entered by Robert Gill does not protect the two from financial exploitation charges. Gill is currently serving 49 years in prison for the murder. Defense Attorney Tom Piper entered the motion after a document saying the two women would be immune from prosecution in any connection to the Maul case as well as in the case of Norma Notson. The plea bargain was negotiated by special prosecutor Ed Parkinson. Special prosecutor Matt Goetten said in the financial exploitation case maintained that any immunity based on a plea deal between Robert Gill or his attorney, W. Scott Hanken, and then-special prosecutor Parkinson were not enforceable.
The women have been charged with unlawful financial exploitation of an elderly person after being accused of taking nearly $40,000 from the bank account of then, 88 year old Norma Notson, who was in their care. Notson is Robert Gill’s aunt. You can review the history of the case as originally reported by WLDS News back in October 2018 here.
Piper argued that oral agreements on plea deals are governed in part by contract law and can benefit a third party, according to a report by the Journal Courier. Madonia said that Special Prosecutor Matthew Goetten was not a part of the original negotiation of the plea, and therefore was not bound by it. Madonia requested Piper find another avenue for appeal prior to a pre-trial conference in November.
Goetten said that if Robert Gill feels charges against his wife and daughter had violated his plea, he could file a post-conviction relief action but his wife and daughter could not.