The maximum penalty was given to a Springfield man Friday for his conviction on 15 offenses, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Jason Dowdell, 38, was found guilty Aug. 18 of three counts of Sexual Battery, three counts of False Imprisonment, three counts of Tampering with a Witness or Victim, Burglary of a Dwelling with Assault or Battery, Child Abuse, three counts of Aggravated Assault, and Battery.
Friday, Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay sentenced Dowdell to four separate terms of Life in prison, three 30-year terms, and seven 5-year terms. The State succeeded in having the defendant declared a Prison Release Reoffender and a Sexual Predator. The defendant will not receive any gain time, he must serve every day of the sentence.
Judge Gay also ordered the sentences to be served consecutively, or one after the other. The defendant was given time served on one misdemeanor charge of battery.
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At trial, Prosecutors Barbara Beasley and Jennifer Lieb presented evidence and testimony that the defendant, armed with a knife, forced his way into a home in May of 2021. Two of the victims were bound, evidence gathered by Springfield Police and Investigators showed, and all three were threatened.
Beasley and Lieb called 14 witnesses during the one-day trial Aug. 18, including the three victims, Florida Department of Law Enforcement experts and five Springfield police officers, including Chief Barry Roberts.
Altogether, 29 pieces of evidence including DNA findings and the knife used in the crime were shown to jurors.
Basford thanked the Springfield Police Department for the case it put together and FDLE agents for their testimony.
For additional information please contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or 850- 381-7454.