Jessie James Peterson Jr. was sentenced this morning to 20 years in prison for multiple drug charges and fined more than $100,000 for drug trafficking. It is a case that resulted from the Fort Myers Deputy Chief of Police Randy Pepitone personally making the arrest. Assistant State Attorney Christine Cummins and Assistant State Attorney Steven Vitale took the case to trial resulting in a guilty verdict in December.
The case started on October 5, 2018 at around 11:45 p.m. when a 911 call came in about a possibly impaired driver. The defendant was passed out in his car at an apartment complex in Fort Myers, near a school. Fort Myers Police Department Deputy Chief Randy Pepitone happened to be in the area and quickly responded.
Deputy Chief Pepitone found Peterson with the car running and the driver’s side window partially down. He attempted to wake him by speaking to him but he was not responsive. Deputy Chief Pepitone then opened the car door and again attempted to wake the driver. When he opened the door, he saw a baggie full of drugs on the floorboard by the driver’s feet.
Peterson woke up as the Deputy Chief took him out of the car. The defendant then started to run. As he jumped out of the car, he kicked a popcorn bucket full of drugs out of the vehicle. Deputy Chief Pepitone began a foot pursuit and caught the defendant after running for about a block.
Officers from the Fort Myers Police Department arrived on scene to assist. They searched the car and found drugs throughout; including the door, floor, and center console. Officers found cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, substituted cathinones (a classification of drugs such as bath salts), oxycodone, and marijuana.
The Honorable Judge Mark Steinbeck sentenced Peterson as follows:
Driving While License Revoked (Habitual Revocation): 60 months in prison
Driving Under the Influence: credit time served, DUI school, $500 fine, 10 day vehicle impound, attend a Lee Memorial Trauma class
Trafficking in Phenethylamines: $50,000 fine, 240 months in prison, with a 36 month minimum/mandatory
Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell or Deliver Within 1,000 Feet of a School: 240 months in prison, with a 36 month minimum/mandatory
Trafficking in Cocaine: $50,000 fine, 240 months in prison, with a 36 month minimum/mandatory
Resisting or Obstructing an Officer without Violence: credit time served
Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell or Deliver Within 1,000 Feet of a School: 240 months in prison, with a 36 month minimum/mandatory
Possession of Marijuana (20 grams or less): credit time served
Possession of a Controlled Substance: 60 months in prison
The sentences are to run concurrently. The defendant also had his driver’s license suspended for 6 months which will begin when he completes his prison sentence.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
ssyoen@sao20.org
239-533-1125