Antonio Pena was found guilty as charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder following a two-day trial in Lee County. The jury returned the guilty verdict this morning.
The crime happened on March 29, 2022, in a Lee County home, in the middle of the night. The victim reported to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office that they were asleep when they felt that they were being strangled and couldn’t breathe. The victim saw the defendant standing over them and felt that he was pulling a long thing object around their throat.
The victim managed to get away and lock themselves in a bathroom to call 9-1-1. Deputies came to the scene and arrested Pena that same day.
The victim also reported that the defendant had threatened their life the day before.
Assistant State Attorney Anastasia Snetkova prosecuted the case. Sentencing is scheduled for February 20, 2023.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office