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Florida Man Gets Life Sentence for Assault, Kidnapping, and Robbery Scheme
A 23-year-old Florida man, Stevenson Charles, has been sentenced to life in prison for a brutal series of crimes involving sexual assault, kidnapping, and armed robbery. The Gwinnett County District Attorneyโs Office in Georgia announced the sentencing following Charles' guilty plea to charges of aggravated sodomy, false imprisonment, armed robbery, kidnapping, and aggravated assault.
The crimes began in November 2022 when Charles met one of his victims through the gay dating app Scruff. Prosecutors revealed that on November 10, Charles forced the man into a sexual act at gunpoint before robbing him. He then made the victim drive to his home, where he kidnapped both the man and his husband. Charles stole their wedding rings and coerced them to drive to multiple stores, purchasing gift cards for his benefit.
โThis defendantโs behavior is absolutely outrageous,โ Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. โWe are pleased with this life sentence, and we hope this resolution gives justice to the individuals he targeted.โ
A History of Violence and Crime
Charles is no stranger to violent crimes. In a separate case, he was convicted in federal court for carjacking, kidnapping, and robbing five victims in Miami during October and November 2022. In these instances, Charles used gay dating apps, including Grindr, to lure victims before threatening them with a gun.
One Miami victim recounted being invited to Charlesโ home, where he noticed Charles wearing a GPS ankle monitor. Charles pulled out a gun, forcing him to drive to a bank and withdraw cash. Another victim described being pistol-whipped while lying in the backseat whenever he tried to lift his head.
These victims eventually escaped and sought help, leading to Charles' capture. A federal judge sentenced him to 45 years in prison for those crimes.
A Warning for App Users
โThis case serves as a warning,โ Austin-Gatson emphasized. โBe careful not to allow yourself to become a victim by hooking up with strangers on dating apps.โ
Charlesโ background revealed a troubled upbringing. His defense attorney noted that Charles dropped out of school in eighth grade, potentially due to a learning disability, and faced challenges growing up without a present father, who was incarcerated.
Charles will now spend his life behind bars, though eligible for parole, while his victims continue to recover from the trauma of his heinous acts.
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