The defense team of a woman accused of plotting the murder-for-hire of her ex-husband filed a motion on Thursday to sanction the State Attorney’s Office “due to continued discovery violation.” They are also asking for more evidence.
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Shanna Gardner is facing charges in connection to the 2022 death of her ex-husband Jared Bridegan.
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The sanctions motion alleges the court “is aware, and the record captures, repeated discovery delays and violations solely attributable to the State Attorney’s Office.”
Court documents say these violations include the State’s failure to perform an adequate taint review of Gardner’s devices to remove attorney-client communications, the “potential spillage” of attorney-client communications to law enforcement and counsel involved in the case, lack of oversight in the use of Nextpoint, lack of labeling or listing discovery material, and more.
Gardner’s attorneys say “the State Attorney’s Office has repeatedly and without consequence abuse its authority.”
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This abuse of authority includes the use of ex-parte subpoenas, the use of “heavy-handed tactics with defense witnesses,” and the failure to disclose favorable evidence, according to court documents.
The motions states Garnder is seeking the following sanctions and relief:
- Prohibit the State (prosecutors and law enforcement) from obtaining any search warrants or issuing any subpoenas in this case without first providing notice to Ms. Gardner.
- Order the State (prosecutors and law enforcement) to turn over any and all notes related to the ex-parte encounters with Tenon, K.J., and J.B. at the State Attorney’s Office.
- Prohibit the State (prosecutors and law enforcement) from having any ex-parte encounters with Tenon without first providing notice to the Defendants and an opportunity to be present.
- Authorize Ms. Gardner to depose Alan Chipperfield and Matthew Bodie, Tenon’s attorneys, regarding the meetings at the State Attorney’s Office between Tenon and the prosecutors
- Order the State Attorney’s Office to pay Ms. Gardner’s costs associated with litigating this and any further discovery issues in this case at a rate of $500 per hour.
In a second motion, Gardner’s lawyers ask for the jail call records and inmate mail of Henry Tenon, the accused gunman.
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The documents state her defense counsel have not received any of these records since Jan. 2024, even though the court ordered JSO to release the jail calls on Feb. 12, 2025.
In a third motion, Gardner’s lawyers ask for the body worn camera footage of Tenon’s 2022 arrest.
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According to the document, Garnder’s lawyers believe “relevant evidence” is in the video.
The lawyers allege only redacted parts of the video are available to them.
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