Today James Clinton Moore IV, 53, was found guilty as charged of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, First Degree Burglary While Armed, and Child Neglect following a three day trial in Charlotte County. Moore faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced on December 17th.
Moore and the victim had been in a relationship for several years until a few weeks before the incident. One evening in September 2016, Moore brought the victim and a 7-year-old relative who lived with her, dinner at her home in Englewood. While there, Moore got angry at the victim and walked outside to a shed in the backyard. The woman then locked Moore out of the
house.
That night the victim went to sleep with the child next to her but the next morning she woke up to find Moore on top of her with two handguns threatening to kill her. During the night Moore had used a screwdriver to pop the sliding glass door to the house off so he could get inside.
Moore began beating the victim with the guns. She noticed the child was missing and begged him to stop so she could look for him. Moore stopped and allowed her to search. When they went outside Moore threatened to kill her then himself if law enforcement was called.
The child had seen the attack and ran from the home to a neighbor’s house to call 911 for help. While they were outside a Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputy pulled up and Moore ran back into the home and locked himself inside. He had a 6 hour standoff with the SWAT team before finally surrendering.
Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Garczewski and Caitlin Sorenson prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
239-533-1125