A Bay County man who robbed a couple at gunpoint and raped the female was given 2 consecutive Life sentences Wednesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay sentenced Markeal Donvelt Byrd, who turned 41 today, Life in prison for both Sexual Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and Carjacking with a Firearm. Prosecutor Zachary VanDyke successfully sought to designate the defendant as a Habitual Violent Felony Offender, which led to enhanced sentences of 20 years for Robbery with a Firearm, and 10 years for Aggravated Assault with a Firearm.
“Two Life sentences is justice for the victims in this case, who suffered tremendously,” VanDyke said. “Both were held at gunpoint – one while being sexually battered – and both had the courage to testify against their attacker at trial. Sentences like this are the result of the collaborative efforts between our office, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, and the victims.”
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VanDyke called 6 witnesses at the one-day trial June 18. The jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before returning the verdicts of guilty as charged.
According to trial testimony and evidence, the male victim was in a car outside his girlfriend’s place of employment when he met the defendant and the two smoked marijuana. When the woman got off work, the defendant said he could get more marijuana for them if they would give him a ride from the beach into town.
During that drive, the defendant pulled a pistol, forced the male victim to withdraw money from ATMs, and sexually attacked the female victim. The defendant then made them drive to the Thomas Drive area. He ordered them out of the car and stole it.
Responding Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies caught the defendant at a nearby convenience store getting gas in the stolen vehicle.
Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the victims for their testimony, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement which provided DNA evidence corroborating the victims’ statements.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.