Ricky Tolbert, 46, was found guilty as charged with two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Conduct following a three day trial in Lee County. The defendant faces up to 60 years in prison as a Habitual Felony Offender.
In January 2018 Tolbert worked at a barber shop in Fort Myers. He would play with children who came in with their parents. In one instance he turned off the lights to a back room and had a child sit on his lap while he committed lewd acts to the child. That child told her mother the next day, who contacted the Fort Myers Police Department. During the investigation, police discovered another child the defendant committed lewd acts on between 2016 and 2017 also at the barber shop.
The jury heard from a third victim who experienced similar lewd touching from the defendant in 2010. She is now an adult and testified that Tolbert committed the acts upon her at a different barbershop in Fort Myers. Tolbert was prosecuted for abusing this victim in a separate case.
Tolbert’s sentencing is set for June 4th.
Assistant State Attorney Michael Colombo Jr. handled the prosecution.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
ssyoen@sao20.org
239-533-1125