Two trials in Ocala: Here's how the juries resolved these separate felony cases
Two defendants faced separate juries recently during trials held at the Ocala courthouse. Here's a look at what happened:
State v. Deontha Lavard Thomas
Trial: Aug. 15-16.
Charge: Vehicular homicide.
Judge: Retired Circuit Judge Willard Pope.
Lawyers: Assistant State Attorney Marissa Meyer and defense lawyer Charles A. Greene.
About the case: Ocala police officers said Thomas was behind the wheel of an older model car in the early morning hours of April 26, 2020 when it ran off the road and crashed into a yard off Northeast 28th Street.
Passenger Jeffery Robinson, 30, who was Thomas' cousin, was ejected and killed, officers said. Thomas was hospitalized and later released.
At the completion of the police investigation, Thomas was arrested. He spent close to three years at the county jail before posting a $25,000 bond and being released pending trial.
Family members of the defendant and the victim were present at the trial.
At trial: The prosecution argued that Thomas had been drinking, which affected his judgment and led to risky behavior. Meyer called the incident "a crime" and "not an accident."
She said officers determined Thomas was driving at 89.29 mph when the car went off the roadway. An officer saw Thomas speeding minutes before the crash. The officer didn't pursue the vehicle because of its speed, which at that time was 70 mph.
For the defense, Greene blamed the crash on an inexperienced driver who had a bottle stuck under the brake.
He said Thomas was trying to remove the bottle while driving. He described Thomas as "dealing with mishap upon mishap upon mishap," and said the crash "happened quickly."
He argued his client's blood-alcohol content did not exceed the legal limit, and the death was not "vehicular homicide."
The defense argued there were two bottles on scene. State and police officials said only one alcohol bottle was recovered from the scene.
Thomas took the stand in his own defense. Though he admitted to drinking and driving fast, he said he never intended for anything bad to happen. He said the vehicle ran off the road twice, with the second time, the vehicle hitting a stump.
"It happened real fast," Thomas said.
Jury: A six-member jury consisting of four women and two men.
Verdict: Jurors deliberated for a little more than two hours. They found the 25-year-old Ocala man guilty of a lesser charge: reckless driving.
Sentence: 60 days in the county jail. Thomas has already served more than 60 days in the jail and therefore was free to go home after the trial.
"He's so sorry for the loss and he carries that pain, and still carries that pain," Greene said after the trial ended.
State v. Carlene Antonette Jarrett
Charge: Culpable negligence, storage of firearms.
Trial: Aug. 17.
Judge: Circuit Judge Lisa Herndon.
Lawyers: Assistant State Attorneys Marissa Meyer and Kyle Lambert for the state and Assistant Public Defenders Julia Williamson and Michael Novak for the defense.
About the case: Last year, Ocala police officials said, Jarrett was visiting a friend when the friend's 4-year-old son found a gun belonging to Jarrett and shot himself in his right hand.
Jarrett was asleep at the time of the shooting. At the time, Jarrett, of Marion Oaks, was a corrections assistant at the county jail. She no longer works at the facility, and the firearm was her personal weapon, authorities said.
At trial: Prosecutors called several witnesses. The defense did not call anyone to testify, including Jarrett, 27.
The defense points out that Jarrett legally can carry her firearm without any exception. Williamson said the shooting was "a horrible accident" but wasn't criminal.
The lawyer said Jarrett cooperated with law enforcement. She said the gun was secured, Jarrett wasn't reckless, and constitutionally, she had a right to have her gun.
Meyer noted that no one is disputing Jarrett's right to carry her weapon. But she said Jarrett had a duty to behave responsibly. She said the victim's mother has told Jarrett in the past not to bring her gun to the residence, but she brought it anyway.
The prosecutor said Jarrett was asleep and the firearm was in a zipper pouch, not properly secured. Meyer added that Jarrett acted selfishly when she wanted the victim's mother to lie about what happened.
Jury: Five men and a woman.
Hearings: Competency hearings held for two men sentenced to life in prison
Verdict: Jurors deliberated for less than 45 minutes, returning with a guilty verdict. Jarrett was dejected and held her face in her hands.
Sentence: Delayed until a pre-sentence investigation is completed. She could be sentenced up to five years in prison. For now, she's free on bond until sentencing, which is scheduled for next month.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Here's what happened during two felony trials at the Ocala courthouse
