JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mario Fernandez Saldana, the man convicted of hiring a hitman to kill his wife’s ex-husband, pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday morning — this time for child molestation related charges.
Mario Fernandez Saldana is accused of molesting two children. Specifically, he faces two charges for lewd or lascivious molestation on a minor.
In one case, an unidentified girl said he molested her from the age of 8, including touching her on her private part. Another girl said Saldana spooned her in her bed months before he had a hand in the 2022 murder of Jared Bridegan.
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Prosecutors even said more evidence for this case was being downloaded as they spoke; his lawyer asked for up to 4 weeks to review it.
As for a possible sentence if convicted: “Guidelines right now are calculated at 129 months to life,” a prosecutor explained.
To note, in August 2026, a jury found Mario Fernandez Saldana guilty of hiring hitman Henry Tennon to shoot and kill Microsoft Executive Jared Bridegan --- the ex-husband of Saldana’s wife Shanna Gardner in 2022.
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Fernandez-Saldana appeared in court in his usual green jumpsuit, but this time sporting a shaved head — the portrait of a man mired in a murder conviction and now child molestation charges.
The number of witnesses and the possibility of consolidating the two cases were discussed. There were concerns about how this molestation case would conflict with his murder sentencing.
Previously, the judge ordered a $75,000 bond for Fernandez-Saldana and no contact with the victims, witnesses or co-defendants.
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A speedy molestation charge trial date for March 2027 was also discussed.
According to the Felonies Department at the Duval County Courthouse, Fernandez-Saldana’s murder sentencing has been postponed.
On October 12th, Fernandez-Saldana is due back in court to request a new murder trial. On October 27th, Fernandez-Saldana is due back in court for the child molestation charges.
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