Man sentenced to 15 years in prison for Charlotte County home break-in, sexual assault

A man was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison for breaking into a Charlotte County home and sexually assaulting a woman in September 2025. According to a news release from the State Attorney's Office, Braxton Jacobs was sentenced as follows: Count I: Sexual battery with a deadly weapon or great force – sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by 10 years of sex offender probation Count II: First-degree burglary with assault or battery — sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 10 years of sex offender probation Count III: False imprisonment – sentenced to five years in prison The sentences will run concurrently, and Jacobs is designated as a sexual predator for life, the release states. According to the SAO, Jacobs climbed through a window to get inside the home while the victim was in a bedroom. He was armed with a knife when he entered the room before he touched her. The victim was able to convince Jacobs to leave before anything else happened, and then she contacted the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, the release said. According to the sheriff's office, when the incident occurred, Jacobs reportedly went into the bedroom and was performing sexual acts while making demands. Deputies also said the woman recorded audio of the attack, which she gave to detectives. Jacobs was found at his home on Westchester Boulevard in Port Charlotte and taken in for questioning. According to CCSO at the time, he initially denied the accusations but later reportedly confessed when confronted with the evidence. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.