Julio Ruiz

Man Convicted of Raping 81 Year Old Woman in her Home, Sentenced to Life in Prison

 

Julio Ruiz

Julio Ruiz

In September 2017,  an 81 year-old Polk County woman returned home from an evening out with friends.  She called her friend and then her son to let them know she was home safe. Later that night, she was awakened by a stranger who had broken into her home.

Julio Ruiz attacked and raped her, and threatened her that if she called the police, he would kill her.  The terrified victim waited several hours and called for help.  The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Haines City Police Department investigated the case and located the DNA of Julio Ruiz on the victim’s bed.  Ruiz was charged and arrested.  Sadly, the victim died before the jury trial, which made proving the case extremely difficult.  Assistant State Attorney Ashley McCarthy did not allow the evidentiary challenges to prevent her from obtaining justice for the victim and her family.

After a lengthy trial, the jury returned with guilty verdicts; convicting Ruiz of sexual battery of a physically incapacitated person and burglary with a battery.  Ruiz had a long criminal record, including convictions for robbery, aggravated assault and drug trafficking.  At the sentencing hearing, Circuit Judge Wayne Durden followed ASA McCarthy’s recommendation that Ruiz be sentenced to life in prison.  State Attorney Brian Haas thanks the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Haines City Police Department for their investigative work on this case and Assistant State Attorneys Ashley McCarthy and Tim Coleman for prosecuting the case to a successful conclusion.

 

Assistant State Attorneys Tim Coleman and Ashley McCarthy.

Assistant State Attorneys Tim Coleman and Ashley McCarthy

 

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Robert Bryant Jr.

Jury deliberates 20 minutes before convicting man of sexual battery

 

Robert Bryant Jr.

Robert Bryant Jr.

A jury took 20 minutes Wednesday to convict a 39-year-old Lakeland man of raping a 20-year-old woman at a Lakeland home in 2016.

 

Robert Ray Bryant Jr., now 42, faces up to 30 years in prison following the conviction of sexual battery on a physically helpless person. Circuit Judge Michael McDaniel is scheduled to sentence Bryant on April 17.

Assistant State Attorney Josephine Colon prosecuted the case.

Bryant raped the victim while she was asleep on a couch after the victim, Bryant, and other family members returned home from a party.

Colon told jurors that the victim woke up with Bryant on top of her. The victim yelled, then rushed to a family member’s room to tell them what had occurred.

The victim’s mother drove her to the hospital where an exam was conducted. Investigators were called to the hospital, charges were filed and a warrant was issued for Bryant’s arrest.

Bryant denied the charges, claiming that the action was consensual.

State Attorney Brian Haas thanks Assistant State Attorney Colon and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case.

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Thomas Johnson

Bartow teen receives life sentence for raping toddler

Thomas Johnson

Thomas Johnson

A circuit judge sentenced a 19-year-old Bartow man to life in prison Friday for raping a 2-year-old girl in 2018.

Thomas Johnson, who was 17 when he assaulted the girl, showed little emotion throughout the two-day sentencing hearing. In 2019, he pleaded no contest to sexual battery on child under 18 and tampering with physical evidence.

The rape of the girl, who is now 4, caused her to suffer numerous injuries and undergo multiple surgeries.

During closing arguments, Assistant State Attorney Ashley McCarthy asked Judge Kevin Abdoney to sentence Johnson to life in prison.

Johnson’s lawyer asked for a lighter sentence to allow him to eventually be released and undergo therapy.

McCarthy said it was one of the most horrific cases she’s worked, describing the rape as “inherently despicable.”

Johnson showed little remorse after the rape, McCarthy said. Instead, he hid evidence and made up a story to law enforcement about a masked man who broke into the home where he babysat the girl.

Ultimately, McCarthy said, the physical and emotional effects of the rape will linger for the rest of the girl’s life.

“The effect of this crime has been devastating on this family,” McCarthy said, detailing the surgeries the girl has undergone. “It’s unbelievable how far that will reach into her life.”

State Attorney Brian Haas thanks Assistant State Attorney McCarthy and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case.

 

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