Convicted human trafficker who beat a woman blind in Daytona Beach sentenced to life

A human trafficker who beat three women, one so severely she was left blind, to force them into prostitution was sentenced Thursday to life in prison followed by 160 years.

Derick Jones Sr., 49, was found guilty of human trafficking and numerous other crimes by a Volusia County jury last week.

Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano sentenced Jones to life in prison after hearing from two victims and family members.

Zambrano also sentenced Jones to an additional 160 years because the judge ran the sentences for other crimes consecutive.

Supporters, including a Daytona Beach police detective and Assistant State Attorney Sarah Thomas, guided the 33-year-old whom Jones beat blind to the podium before the judge. The woman also used a cane to guide herself.

Thomas read a statement from the woman who said she would no longer have to look over her shoulder and live in fear of Jones.

"Finally the day has come for him to pay for every fist that hit my face, head and ribs; every time he picked me up and body slammed me; for that time he hit me in the head with a steel-toed boot on his fist," Thomas read from the statement.

The woman, whom The News-Journal is not identifying because of the nature of the crimes, then spoke to Jones, who sat next to his defense attorney and did not appear to acknowledge her.

"You deserve what you get and I hope your life is taken away the way you took mine away," the woman said. "Mine is never going to be the same again."

Her father and mother, who live in Port Orange, also spoke. Her father said Jones had blinded his daughter for life and forced her to relearn basic tasks.

"You changed and took her life away and I hope the judge sees fit to take your life away," the father said.

The mother fought back tears as she recalled getting phone calls from her daughter asking for $20 or else Jones would beat her or asking for food because she was hungry.

Another victim appeared via Zoom.

"None of us will ever forget what you did to us and what you put us through, so I hope you get what you deserve," she said.

Daytona Beach Police officers who worked the case praised the victims' courage for speaking out and asked that Jones get the maximum sentence.

Thomas, who prosecuted the case along with Sandy Desroisiers, asked that Jones be sentenced to life in prison, citing his extensive criminal record. Jones' record dates back to 1993, court documents show.

Jones was found guilty last week of  human trafficking; deriving support from prostitution; armed trafficking in fentanyl; felony battery; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of ammunition by a convicted felon; possession of a weapon by a convicted felon; possession of cocaine with intent to sell; attempted witness tampering; possession of methamphetamine; possession of cannabis not more than 20 grams; possession of paraphernalia; and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

The jury also found that Jones “caused great bodily harm, permanent disability and permanent disfigurement.”

Jones' attorney, Craig Satchell, said he filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that prosecutors used a photo from a previous incident in the trial. Zambrano has not yet ruled on the motion.

It is not unusual for a defense attorney to file a motion for a new trial.

Jones was arrested in December 2022 after the Daytona Beach Police Department's Special Investigations Unit identified three women who said Jones was confining them in hotel rooms on South Ridgewood Avenue and beating them if they didn't commit prostitution, prosecutors said.

“The victims will forever carry the physical, mental and emotional scars from the defendant’s vicious and cruel crimes,” Larizza stated in the release. “It is only fair that he spend the rest of his life in prison. We will not tolerate human traffickers and we will seek maximum penalties for those who engage in such activities.”

After the sentencing, Jones was fingerprinted and led away to jail.

The woman and her parents hugged and thanked Daytona Beach Police officers and prosecutors outside the courtroom and thanked them for their work on the case.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Man convicted of human trafficking in Daytona Beach sentenced to life