Question
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Law & Courts
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Florida man is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her back yard while her child watched, police said.
Investigators said the man put a gun to a woman's head at her home in the Moncrief area and said he was going to shoot her if she didn't do what he demanded.
"He forced her into the back yard and made her perform sexual acts against her will with her child present. It's a horrible, horrible situation that nobody should have to go through," Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Melissa Bujeda said.
Investigators told WJXT-TV that they arrested Richard Lavel Edwards, 22, after a DNA sample match.
Edwards was charged with sexual battery and home invasion robbery.
Police said Edwards assaulted the 42-year-old victim at her home and robbed her in front of her 8-year-old daughter.
According to authorities, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement had DNA samples from Edwards from a previous crime.
Officers said the DNA samples taken from the scene matched what FDLE had in its database.
"I can tell you the fact that there was a child involved only heightened the detectives' efforts in this case. Not that they wouldn't have worked it just as hard if we had our adult victim, but the detectives in sex crimes especially, or any unit that deals with children, have a lot of sensitivity when it comes to that issue," Assistant Chief Ron Lendvay said.
Police said Edwards has denied involvement in the attack and being at the home. Edwards was on probation for child abuse.
Investigators said the man put a gun to a woman's head at her home in the Moncrief area and said he was going to shoot her if she didn't do what he demanded.
"He forced her into the back yard and made her perform sexual acts against her will with her child present. It's a horrible, horrible situation that nobody should have to go through," Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Melissa Bujeda said.
Investigators told WJXT-TV that they arrested Richard Lavel Edwards, 22, after a DNA sample match.
Edwards was charged with sexual battery and home invasion robbery.
Police said Edwards assaulted the 42-year-old victim at her home and robbed her in front of her 8-year-old daughter.
According to authorities, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement had DNA samples from Edwards from a previous crime.
Officers said the DNA samples taken from the scene matched what FDLE had in its database.
"I can tell you the fact that there was a child involved only heightened the detectives' efforts in this case. Not that they wouldn't have worked it just as hard if we had our adult victim, but the detectives in sex crimes especially, or any unit that deals with children, have a lot of sensitivity when it comes to that issue," Assistant Chief Ron Lendvay said.
Police said Edwards has denied involvement in the attack and being at the home. Edwards was on probation for child abuse.
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Answered I Think
I knew this was in Florida.She should be glad it wasn't Lawerence Singelton.That guy took an axe,and chopped of Mary Vincent's arms when he was done with her.He moved to Florida after his first prison sentence.That state is FULL of crazy people(old/republican/racist/... never can believe the evil that some people are capable of.Who needs hell,we're already there. -
Answered I Think
He should also be charged with the death of a child, he just killed her childhood. Not to mention the long term impact seeing your mother being made to do something to a lunatic that has at the very least been accused before. Why was he even out of jail? -
Answered If Guilty? Penalty?
There was a child involved. He should get the max penalty for the sexual assult and home robbery, not to mention anything they can pin against him like child abuse because let's face it, that has got to be tramatizing. I remember things when I was 8, even now. She'll remember that her whole life.
CUT IT OFF.. -
Answered Undecided
He shouldnt have done that at all, let alone with the child present! I think he should get the death penalty. Or the gas chambers and the lethal injection, put into one special package for him.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*****I should have put "if guilty....Death penalty"******* -
Answered I Think
i think he should go to jail for about 30-35 years, then he'll be able to qualify for probation. thats just not right!!! and in front of an 8 year old girl!!! Lets see what she has to say in about 30 years about this whole thing!!! -
That's the reason the death penalty isn't such a bad idea in these cases. It doesn't cost nearly as much... and we're rid of this fellow for good... do I sound cynical.. maybe... I just think that our "inalienable rights" sometimes are unjustified... do I make sense? I hope so.
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In 30-35 years he might still be alive...Would U rather see him dead or alive, walking on the streets, planning his next vic?.....I'm sure next time that he will have thought out his plan more carefully!!!!...But if he gets the death penalty, then nobody will have to worry about him planning his next vic.
Answered If Guilty? Penalty?
Make sure they call Lorena Bobbitt!!