Florida – A Florida man was sentenced this week to two and a haIf years in prison after pIeading no contest to aggravated battery with a deadIy weapon. The defendant, 35-year-old J. Sakes, had been incarcerated since Jan. 2023, accumulating six hundred and twenty six days of credit toward his sentence. With time served, he is expected to spend approximately nine more months in prison, barring any changes.
The incident that led to the defendant’s conviction occurred on Jan. 2022. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the defendant picked up two friends, a man and a woman, around 1 a.m. and drove them to a local Iiquor store. After purchasing a bottle, the defendant and the male friend exited the vehicle and walked to the back of the store. The defendant allegedly assaulted his friend with a hattchet wrapped in paracord, striking him multiple times on the upper body and head. The victim sustained several fractures and required surgery. During the assault, the victim reported hearing the defendant say he was going to kill him and later, “So now you wanna beg for your life.”
After the attack, the defendant returned to the vehicle alone and instructed the woman to check on the victim. She found him seriously injured and bIeeding in the roadway. Both the woman and the victim identified the defendant as the attacker. The victim believed the assault stemmed from an incident when he accidentally broke the defendant’s phone, which had already been replaced.
The victim, who suffered multiple fractured bones that required surgery, reportedly told Florida authorities that he believes the attack was over him accidentally breaking the defendant’s phone days earlier, even though he had already replaced it.
The defendant was charged with attempted murder and felony criminal mischief. He was arrested on Jan. 2023, after deputies spotted him driving. The defendant admitted to being upset over the broken phone and personal property he claimed had been stolen from him.
At trial, the defendant pleaded no contest to the lesser charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Circuit Judge Terri entenced him to two and a half years in prison, giving him credit for time served. The defendant has 30 days to appeal the sentence.
