A Lakeland man was convicted in March of fatally stabbing his friend in the neck during an argument in 2017.
Jesse Banks
Jesse Banks Jr., 69, faces up to life in prison. Jurors deliberated for 3 ½-hours before finding him guilty of second degree murder with a weapon.
A sentencing date has been scheduled for May 29.
Assistant State Attorney Michael Nutter prosecuted the case.
During closing arguments, Nutter told jurors that Banks and Tommy Lee Engram were longtime friends, but had been in a spat on May 4 when Banks pulled a knife and stabbed Engram in the neck.
Engram, who had accused Banks of theft, was unarmed and made no attempt to defend himself.
“This was not an accident or an act of self-defense,” Nutter said.
Witnesses testified during the trial that they saw Banks holding a knife standing over Engram’s body after the stabbing.
Nutter said the accusations of theft became too much for Banks.
“He became tired of being pestered,” Nutter said. “He took matters into his own hands and silenced Tommy forever,” Nutter said.
State Attorney Brian Haas thanks Assistant State Attorney Michael Nutter and the Lakeland Police Department for their work on the case.
https://www.sao10.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/0408banks.jpg480400john chamblisshttps://www.sao10.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Office-of-the-State-Attorney-10th-Judicial-Circuit-Logo.pngjohn chambliss2020-04-09 09:03:442020-04-09 09:03:44Lakeland man convicted of fatal 2017 stabbing
Prior to schools being closed down due to the coronavirus crisis, State Attorney Brian Haas read to students at Clarence Boswell Elementary to celebrate Dr. Seuss Week in the Polk County School District.
This was the third year in a row that we participated in this great event!
State Attorney Brian Haas reads to students at Boswell Elementary.
State Attorney Brian Haas enjoyed participating in Dr. Seuss Week at Boswell Elementary.
State Attorney Brian Haas enjoyed participating in Dr. Seuss Week for the third year in a row at Boswell Elementary.
https://www.sao10.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/0309boswell01-scaled.jpg21842560john chamblisshttps://www.sao10.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Office-of-the-State-Attorney-10th-Judicial-Circuit-Logo.pngjohn chambliss2020-04-06 09:59:522020-04-06 09:59:52State Attorney Haas reads to students at Boswell Elementary
Early last month, State Attorney Brian Haas spoke to retired Polk County Public School teachers during a meeting in Bartow about ways to prevent fraud and scams from occurring. Mr. Haas thanks the retired teachers from the Polk Education Association for inviting him.
State Attorney Brian Haas addresses retired teachers.
https://www.sao10.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/0311teacher01-scaled.jpg16532560john chamblisshttps://www.sao10.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Office-of-the-State-Attorney-10th-Judicial-Circuit-Logo.pngjohn chambliss2020-04-02 13:09:412020-04-02 13:09:41State Attorney Haas speaks to retired teachers about ways to prevent scams
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
https://www.sao10.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/0130Ruiz.jpg512414john chamblisshttps://www.sao10.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Office-of-the-State-Attorney-10th-Judicial-Circuit-Logo.pngjohn chambliss2020-04-01 10:08:392020-04-01 10:08:39Man Convicted of Raping 81 Year Old Woman in her Home, Sentenced to Life in Prison
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.
https://www.sao10.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/0305bryant.jpg512414john chamblisshttps://www.sao10.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Office-of-the-State-Attorney-10th-Judicial-Circuit-Logo.pngjohn chambliss2020-03-05 16:14:192020-03-05 16:14:19Jury deliberates 20 minutes before convicting man of sexual battery
Lakeland man convicted of fatal 2017 stabbing
/in SAO10 Blog /by john chamblissA Lakeland man was convicted in March of fatally stabbing his friend in the neck during an argument in 2017.
Jesse Banks
Jesse Banks Jr., 69, faces up to life in prison. Jurors deliberated for 3 ½-hours before finding him guilty of second degree murder with a weapon.
A sentencing date has been scheduled for May 29.
Assistant State Attorney Michael Nutter prosecuted the case.
During closing arguments, Nutter told jurors that Banks and Tommy Lee Engram were longtime friends, but had been in a spat on May 4 when Banks pulled a knife and stabbed Engram in the neck.
Engram, who had accused Banks of theft, was unarmed and made no attempt to defend himself.
“This was not an accident or an act of self-defense,” Nutter said.
Witnesses testified during the trial that they saw Banks holding a knife standing over Engram’s body after the stabbing.
Nutter said the accusations of theft became too much for Banks.
“He became tired of being pestered,” Nutter said. “He took matters into his own hands and silenced Tommy forever,” Nutter said.
State Attorney Brian Haas thanks Assistant State Attorney Michael Nutter and the Lakeland Police Department for their work on the case.
State Attorney Haas reads to students at Boswell Elementary
/in SAO10 Blog /by john chamblissPrior to schools being closed down due to the coronavirus crisis, State Attorney Brian Haas read to students at Clarence Boswell Elementary to celebrate Dr. Seuss Week in the Polk County School District.
This was the third year in a row that we participated in this great event!
State Attorney Brian Haas reads to students at Boswell Elementary.
State Attorney Brian Haas enjoyed participating in Dr. Seuss Week at Boswell Elementary.
State Attorney Brian Haas enjoyed participating in Dr. Seuss Week for the third year in a row at Boswell Elementary.
State Attorney Haas speaks to retired teachers about ways to prevent scams
/in SAO10 Blog /by john chamblissEarly last month, State Attorney Brian Haas spoke to retired Polk County Public School teachers during a meeting in Bartow about ways to prevent fraud and scams from occurring. Mr. Haas thanks the retired teachers from the Polk Education Association for inviting him.
State Attorney Brian Haas addresses retired teachers.
Man Convicted of Raping 81 Year Old Woman in her Home, Sentenced to Life in Prison
/in SAO10 Blog /by john chamblissJulio 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
State Attorney Brian Haas addresses Coronavirus concerns
/in SAO10 Blog /by john chamblissJury deliberates 20 minutes before convicting man of sexual battery
/in SAO10 Blog /by john chamblissRobert 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.