This afternoon, Jason Ritenour was sentenced to two life sentences immediately after being convicted of two counts of Kidnapping, following a three-day trial in Charlotte County. He was sentenced as a Prison Releasee Reoffender.
Assistant State Attorney Kristan Burns and Assistant State Attorney Scott Patterson prosecuted the case.
In 2023, the defendant held two women hostage inside a Port Charlotte home for almost 12 hours. He barricaded himself and the victims inside.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and Sarasota County SWAT team were on scene and were able to safely get the hostages out when one of the victims was allowed outside to retrieve a package the defendant had demanded. Law enforcement used that opportunity to get inside the home and end the stand-off.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director