This evening, Christopher Ward was sentenced to life in prison, for a Violation of Probation case, involving the death of Fort Myers Police Officer Daniel Starks. Officer Starks was killed in a traffic accident on October 25, 2003, while responding to assist officers who were involved in a pursuit of the defendant who was fleeing in a vehicle.
In 2006, Ward was sentenced to 21.5 years in prison in that case. After being released from prison, the defendant was arrested on new charges for trafficking Fentanyl to DEA agents in Lee County. It is an active case being prosecuted in Federal court.
Today State Attorney Amira Fox and Assistant State Attorney Sara Miller called witnesses and showed evidence to the court at a violation of probation hearing, seeking to prove the violation on the original case.
The DEA agents testified about the evidence in the current Fentanyl trafficking case. The evidence presented today was that the defendant was involved in offering a kilo of Fentanyl for sale for more than $50,000.
The State sought a life sentence, the maximum penalty on the violation of probation charge.
The Honorable Judge Nick Thompson found that the defendant did violate his probation and sentenced the defendant to life in prison just after 6 p.m.
Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields was in the courtroom, along with many Fort Myers Police Officers. The fiancé of Officer Starks spoke on behalf of his family today, prior to sentencing.
“After today, I hope the family and friends of Fort Myers Police Officer Daniel Starks, can rest a little easier,” said State Attorney Fox.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director