Gordon Weekes, the executive chief public defender, said the motion for his release was denied, possibly because of his prior offenses. “We knew there was going to be a certain population that was going to be immune-compromised and vulnerable to contracting the virus,” he said. “We have to make sure these folks who have to remain in jail are being properly tested, properly distanced from other inmates and afforded appropriate medical care so they can survive exposure to this disease.”