Jalyssa Lanice Villa was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison for Attempted Robbery with a Deadly Weapon and 15 years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation, for Second Degree Felony Murder. The sentences are to be served concurrently.
The defendant, then 17-years-old, along with her 18-year-old boyfriend, tried to rob another teenager in September 2024. They invited the teen to a house in Punta Gorda. As they stood in a bedroom, the defendant’s boyfriend pulled out a gun and approached the teen. The teen then pulled out his own firearm and fired two shots, striking the 18-year-old, killing him.
Circuit Court Chief Assistant State Attorney Jillian Kuykendall and Assistant State Attorney Kristan Burns reviewed the evidence and direct-filed the defendant’s case in adult court, due to a firearm being used during the commission of a felony. The teen who was the intended target was protected by Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. The defendant was responsible for the murder of her boyfriend due to it happening during the commission of a felony attempted robbery.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director