James Cochran Jr., 33, was sentenced to life in prison for each of two charges: Sexual Battery with a Deadly Weapon and Burglary. The defendant was sentenced as a Prison Releasee Re-offender on count one and a Habitual Violent Felony Offender on count two. The defendant was found guilty following a trial in Lee County in December.
The crime happened in August 2018. The victim, a 65-year-old woman from Haiti, was in Fort Myers visiting her son. She was home alone doing laundry under a carport when the defendant rode up on a bicycle and tried speaking to her in English. She could not understand him. He then pulled out a gun, forced her into the home, and committed a sexual battery.
The Fort Myers Police Department investigated the case. DNA evidence on a napkin and the victim’s clothing led to the arrest of the defendant.
Assistant State Attorney Mary Anderson and Assistant State Attorney Natalie Stowe Heiderscheit prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
ssyoen@sao20.org
239-533-1125