MIAMI — There’s a new twist in the murder case of former Miami Hurricanes football star Bryan Pata.
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His former teammate, turned accused killer, has rejected a plea deal.
A jailhouse informant, George Jones, has claimed that Rashaun Jones (no relation) confessed to the 2006 killing of Pata, 22, while the two were cellmates in Miami. However, George Jones has refused to testify, saying he fears for his safety.
Prosecutors now say George Jones told police and federal agents that a defense attorney tried to pay him $15,000 to keep him from testifying in Jones’ upcoming retrial, according to ESPN.
According to the court filing, the attorney is Jeremy McLymont, a Miami defense attorney who is not part of Rashaun Jones’ defense team, ESPN reported.
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ESPN also reported that McLymont has been in communication with Jones’ lead attorney, Sara Alvarez, and previously represented George Jones in 2022 when he provided a statement to a detective about the alleged confession.
A judge has now ordered an investigation into the alleged attempted bribery.
Depending on the outcome of that investigation, McLymont could potentially become a witness in the case, which could raise questions about his involvement and his communications with the defense.
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McLymont has denied the allegations.
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