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JURY VERDICT: Man convicted of murder for second time
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonJurors found 24-year-old Benjamin Smiley guilty Thursday of killing a Lakeland man, making it the second time he’s been convicted of murder in less than a year. After deliberating for about six hours, the jury found Smiley guilty of first-degree murder, robbery with a firearm, tampering with evidence, aggravated assault and burglary of a dwelling. […]
SENTENCING UPDATE: Carroll sentenced to 20 years
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonGary Carroll was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday for striking and killing a bicyclist and leaving the scene. Carroll, 48, of Lakeland, struck and killed the 32-year-old victim, left the scene of the crash and removed the physical evidence from his vehicle. He was found guilty by a jury on Aug. 22 and […]
JURY VERDICT: Man guilty of hiring hitman to kill his wife
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonVincent Madhavath intended to kill his wife the night of Sept. 17, 2014. Madhavath, 45, of Winter Haven, hired a hitman – who was an undercover Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent – and planned to have him enter their home after midnight for a staged armed robbery where his wife would be shot in […]
State Attorney Hill, Assistant State Attorneys honored by MADD
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonWINTER HAVEN – State Attorney Jerry Hill and two of our prosecutors were honored Thursday, Sept. 22, at the MADD Polk County Law Enforcement and Prosecutors Recognition Dinner. Felony Attorneys Melissa Gravitt and Stephanie Durrance were awarded for their work prosecuting DUI cases, and Mr. Hill was given a special award for his dedication to […]
JURY VERDICT: Man guilty of heroin trafficking
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonA trail of heroin crumbs led deputies to the closet where Gleen Efrain Zayas-Acosta was hiding. Deputies found 35-year-old Zayas-Acosta behind hanging clothes near a hamper where he’d hidden about a kilo of heroin. A prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office laid out all the evidence before the jury in closing statements Thursday, re-enacting the […]
JURY VERDICT: Man guilty of robbing, beating elderly woman
/in SAO10 Blog /by Kaitlyn PearsonWhen Perry Lee Chance walked into the Winter Haven clothing store where 82-year-old Carol Sleeth was working, Sleeth had no way of knowing the same man would return four days later, rob her and beat her. Chance, 55, faces life in prison after a jury found him guilty Thursday of burglary with an assault, robbery, […]