A 28-year-old man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison Tuesday for robbing another man at gunpoint in Immokalee in 2007.Carl Lloyd James, 1403 Pear St., Immokalee, was scheduled to stand trial for armed robbery on Tuesday. Instead, he accepted the state’s offer of 20 years in prison to plea as charged.
James pleaded no contest to a charge of robbery with a firearm.
Collier County Circuit Judge Frank Baker accepted the plea, adjudicated James guilty and sentenced him to prison as a habitual felony offender. Under Florida’s “10-20-Life” statute, James will have to serve 100 percent of the first 10 years of his sentence.
James’ co-defendant, Ricardo Rodriguez, 23, was also convicted of robbery with a firearm in connection with this case and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence following his sentencing in circuit court on June 4, 2008.
Collier County Sheriff’s Office reports gave this account of the robbery:
James and Rodriguez drove to a residence in the 1400 block of Carson Road in Immokalee around 1:10 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2007. Rodriguez, the driver, pulled into the driveway and honked the horn.
The victim came out of the residence and walked up to the open driver-side window, where Rodriguez, whom the victim knew, pointed a gun at him. The victim pushed the gun away, thinking Rodriguez was kidding.
James then reached over Rodriguez, pointed a gun at the victim and demanded money.
The victim, who did not know James, became fearful and tossed two $100 bills into the vehicle.
James and Rodriguez drove off.
CCSO deputies quickly spotted the vehicle traveling north on State Road 29 near the Hendry County line. Deputies conducted a traffic stop and arrested James and Rodriguez.
James is a documented career criminal in Collier County. His prior felony convictions in Collier date back to 2002 and include fleeing or attempting to elude, grand theft, dealing in stolen property and driving on a suspended license (habitual revocation), for which he received a 14-month prison sentence. He was also convicted of burglary and grand theft in Lee County in 2002.
