William Ambrose Gates Jr., 34, of Fort Myers, was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 5 years in prison, immediately after being found guilty at trial of Felony Battery. The defendant represented himself at the one-day trial in Lee County.
On April 22, 2022, the defendant was yelling at waste management workers as they picked up the trash outside of a residence. The victim asked him to stop, to return her phone she had loaned him, and to leave. Gates approached the victim with both fists clenched as if he was going to strike her. She flinched and moved backwards.
The defendant then approached and began punching her in the face. She fell to the ground and he continued. The victim was able to get away and contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Their
investigation led to the arrest of the defendant.
Assistant State Attorney Christine Cummins, of the Special Victims Unit, prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office