A man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after a deadly home invasion robbery.
Saleef Stevenson also received 10 years of probation following his sentence after being convicted of second-degree murder, first-degree burglary while armed and two counts of armed robbery.
Stevenson was 17 at the time of the crime, and was direct filed as an adult by the State Attorney's Office.
The felony murder charge is due to a death resulting from the commission of the crime.
Stevenson was also sentenced to five years in prison on four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and two counts of cruelty to animals.
The crime happened in May 2023 in Port Charlotte around 11 p.m.
Charlotte County deputies responded to reports of shots fired inside a home involving an active robbery.
As they were responding, deputies received information that the suspects were running from the scene.
As deputies arrived, they reportedly saw a man dead in the street, who was later determined to be one of the suspects.
Three other suspects who fled were caught shortly after.
Investigations revealed that the suspects targeted the home and broke in, armed with guns, demanding cash from the four people inside.
The suspects aimed their guns at the residents and shot two dogs who also lived in the home. One dog later died.
One of the victims shot a suspect during the robbery, Barsher Smith, who was the man found in the street.
Two defendants were prosecuted for the crime. Shazear Alond Rohn-Duuallah Mears received the same sentence, on the same charges as Stevenson.
Leak Kirsten Jenness was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison followed by 12.5 years on probation for second-degree felony murder, first degree burglary while armed, two counts of robbery and four counts of aggravated assault.
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