WHAT: Sentencing, life in prison
WHEN: Tuesday, March 18, 2008
WHERE: Collier County Circuit Court
WHO: Willis "Pops" Foster Jr., 408 S.E. 11th St., Immokalee
SUMMARY: Foster, 51, was sentenced to two life in prison sentences in connection with a 2005 drive-by shooting in Immokalee.
At a court hearing, Collier County Circuit Judge Frank Baker gave Foster Jr., the maximum punishment he could have received under the law. Both sentences are to run at the same time.
On Feb. 21, following a two-day trial, a Collier County jury found Foster guilty of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery of a firearm and cocaine possession.
Foster could have received anywhere between 25 years to life in prison, under Florida’s “10-20-Life” law. Since Oct. 1, 1995, a life sentence in Florida means “for life,” with no hope of parole.
Reports gave this account of the shooting:
On Aug. 16, 2005 around 9:30 p.m. Timothy Wells was walking in the 300 block of S. 2nd St. when he saw his cousin and Foster fighting across the street. Wells crossed the street with the intention of breaking up the fight.
Foster attempted to hit Wells and Wells knocked him down. Foster then drove off in a black 2003 Cadillac Escalade.
Wells was still standing on South 2nd Street with a group of people when Foster returned 10 minutes later. Foster opened the door of the Escalade and fire four shots from a handgun at Wells. Foster sped off.
Wells was shot once in the stomach and severely wounded.
Deputies located Foster heading south on State Road 29, where they pulled him over and took him into custody. A search of Foster during the arrest turned up crack cocaine in one of his pockets.
Foster is a documented career criminal with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
All of his prior felony convictions occurred in Miami-Dade County, dating back to 1983, when he was convicted of aggravated battery and false imprisonment.
His other felony convictions include forgery, uttering a forged instrument, fraudulent use of a credit card and grand theft in 1987; possession of cocaine in 1989; possession of cocaine and resisting arrest with violence in 1991; possession of cocaine with intent to sell in 1997; possession of cocaine in 2000; and possession of marijuana with intent to sell in 2001 and in 2003.
At a court hearing, Collier County Circuit Judge Frank Baker gave Foster Jr., the maximum punishment he could have received under the law. Both sentences are to run at the same time.
On Feb. 21, following a two-day trial, a Collier County jury found Foster guilty of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery of a firearm and cocaine possession.
Foster could have received anywhere between 25 years to life in prison, under Florida’s “10-20-Life” law. Since Oct. 1, 1995, a life sentence in Florida means “for life,” with no hope of parole.
Reports gave this account of the shooting:
On Aug. 16, 2005 around 9:30 p.m. Timothy Wells was walking in the 300 block of S. 2nd St. when he saw his cousin and Foster fighting across the street. Wells crossed the street with the intention of breaking up the fight.
Foster attempted to hit Wells and Wells knocked him down. Foster then drove off in a black 2003 Cadillac Escalade.
Wells was still standing on South 2nd Street with a group of people when Foster returned 10 minutes later. Foster opened the door of the Escalade and fire four shots from a handgun at Wells. Foster sped off.
Wells was shot once in the stomach and severely wounded.
Deputies located Foster heading south on State Road 29, where they pulled him over and took him into custody. A search of Foster during the arrest turned up crack cocaine in one of his pockets.
Foster is a documented career criminal with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
All of his prior felony convictions occurred in Miami-Dade County, dating back to 1983, when he was convicted of aggravated battery and false imprisonment.
His other felony convictions include forgery, uttering a forged instrument, fraudulent use of a credit card and grand theft in 1987; possession of cocaine in 1989; possession of cocaine and resisting arrest with violence in 1991; possession of cocaine with intent to sell in 1997; possession of cocaine in 2000; and possession of marijuana with intent to sell in 2001 and in 2003.
