A 45-year-old Ocala man was recently sentenced for a series of crimes he committed on the same day back in 2022.
The crimes mainly involved robbery or theft. The man initially stole items from a store in an area mall and then ran out of the mall and up to a van, where he ordered the occupants inside to start driving. The van occupants refused and managed to drive away.
After that, the man apparently approached a woman in her vehicle and demanded that she give him money because his wife was pregnant. The man left when the woman said she was going to call the police.
Man was later identified in lineup
The man was eventually caught and charged with burglary of a conveyance with assault, burglary of an occupied conveyance and petit theft. It was later learned he had been released from prison just three days earlier.
A jury found the man guilty on the charges and a judge sentenced him to life in prison. The man’s prior criminal history and status as a prison release offender meant that he faced mandatory minimum sentences, although ultimately the judge chose life in prison.
A State Attorney involved in the case said that this should serve as an example that habitual criminality will not be tolerated in the state of Florida.
Factors that can increase a criminal sentence
Prior criminal history is one of many factors that courts and judges consider when sentencing Florida residents for crimes. People with a prior criminal history are likely to face higher penalties than ones with no criminal history.
Other factors considered include the nature of the crime, the person’s role in the crime, whether the person acted under someone else’s coercion or control and whether the person showed remorse for their actions.
Cooperation can also sometimes result in a more lenient sentence. If you are charged with a serious crime, cooperating with the prosecutors to resolve the matter could lead to a lesser sentence. However, this depends on the situation, so it is best to get advice on the best strategy first.
