Therbert Tyrone Sweet has been adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation, for two counts of Kidnapping – Actual Possession
of a Firearm.
Sweet was found guilty in February following a two-day trial in Lee County. During a break in the trial, the defendant, who was not in custody, left the courtroom and did not return. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest. He was located in Manatee County and brought back to Lee County.
The case involves a crime that happened on February 12, 2021. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous 911 call about two people being held hostage at a residence in Bonita
Springs. Deputies responded to the scene and determined there were two victims in the home.
Both had been meeting up with some people at a residence in the San Carlos Park area, when they were attacked and abducted. The victims were driven to the home in Bonita Springs and left bound, on the floor of a garage, until deputies arrived.
A search warrant was served at the location and evidence was recovered supporting the story told by the victims.
Assistant State Attorney Olivia Ferrell and Assistant State Attorney Jonathan Levy prosecuted the case.
Three co-defendants have pending cases.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office