UPDATE: Javier Manjarres has posted bond and has been released from the Palm Beach County Jail.
Conservative political blogger Javier Manjarres made headlines this week after reports surfaced he had been arrested for attempted first degree murder and burglary with battery over the weekend.
Javier Manjarres made a name for himself in Florida politics for his conservative blog, Shark Tank, which discusses politics in the Sunshine State. But over the weekend, Manjarres himself was the top story in Florida insider gossip.
A police report obtained by Sunshine State News tells the story of a heated argument between Manjarres’ sister and her boyfriend which allegedly turned more violent as Manjarres himself became involved in the equation.
According to the report, Manjarres’ sister and her boyfriend, Jason Holowinski, got into an argument on Friday evening -- Holowinski said Manjarres’ sister was drunk and that he had had drinks at home. The argument became physical when Manjarres’ sister said Holowinski grabbed her by the neck.
After the argument was over, the two left and Holowinski dropped Manjarres’ sister off in a shopping plaza parking lot. The couple text messaged for 45 minutes until Manjarres’ sister requested Holowinski return to pick her up, but asked that he drive to the back parking lot instead of where he originally dropped her off.
Holowinski said he followed his girlfriend’s directions, opening the passenger door to let her into his truck so they could leave. But instead of his girlfriend appearing, Manjarres came out unexpectedly and entered the vehicle, punching Holowinski several times.
Holowinski then said he saw Manjarres reach into his waistband pocket. Fearing the worst, Holowinski threw the car into reverse to get away from Manjarres and then in drive to get away.
Then he heard shots.
Holowinski sped off, heading to his brother’s house then to a local hospital. When police arrived, they saw three bullet holes on the driver’s side of his vehicle.
Manjarres was later arrested at his Pompano Beach home. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail early Wednesday morning. After a hearing with a judge, Manjarres’ total bond is set at $100,000 combined for the two charges.
Manjarres was also ordered to have no contact with Holowinski.
Attempted first degree murder is the one of the most serious crime in Florida statutes. If convicted, Manjarres faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with possibility of parole. Most offenders spend a minimum of 10 years in prison.
Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, who is prosecuting the case, isn't a stranger to Manjarres. The two men both sat down for a NewsMax interview together just this year, discussing the fair tax plan. That's not the first time they've discussed issues together -- Manjarres and Aronberg have had political chats about Donald Trump and the Confederate flag on other broadcasts of NewsMax Now.
That may raise questions as to whether there is a potential conflict between the two parties, though it is not clear exactly how involved Aronberg will be in Manjarres’ case.
Manjarres’ next court date is set for April 28.
