's attorney, Howard Srebnick, maintained his client's innocence.

Srebnick released a statement, which partially reads:

 He never disabled anyone's diving equipment. Video footage of the event corroborates that one of the accusers fell off their boat and became entangled in the third lung diving device while Mr. Simpson was nowhere near it. 

Srebnick later told 7News that the state may proceed under a different charge.

 The state actually concurred that the claim of an attempted felony murder is not supported. The state may proceed under a different charge,  he said.

The judge ultimately decided to reduce the charge to attempted second-degree murder.

The Miami-Dade County Office of the Mayor confirmed that Simpson was once a member of the county's Boater Safety and Bay Education Task Force, and stated:

 The County's Boater Safety and Bay Education Task Force was created with one goal: to make our waterways safer. The conduct alleged in this case against Michael Joseph Simpson is contrary to that mission. 

Simpson was granted a bond of $10,000.

 We'll post it today. He'll be released. He will plead not guilty. He is not guilty. We have eyewitnesses that will prove he's not guilty. We look forward to getting this charge resolved quickly,  said Srebnick.

The family said Simpson looks forward to clearing his name.

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