A burglar who rammed a pickup truck into a Lake Mary jewelry store before leading police on a high-speed chase has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Seminole County prosecutors convicted LENELL BARNES III at trial in April of burglary of a structure with more than $1,000 in losses. At a hearing May 26, they successfully argued that Barnes should be sentenced as a Habitual Violent Felony Offender, a designation based on his criminal record that enables longer minimum sentences.

Barnes’ prior convictions included aggravated assault, attempted armed robbery, attempted  carjacking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, records show. Barnes committed the April 2024 jewelry store burglary within five years of his release from prison from a previous offense.

“The conduct of crashing a vehicle into the side of a building to effectuate a burglary is a gross disregard for the safety and sanctity of the community,”  Assistant State Attorney Domenick Leo said in a sentencing brief. “Further, leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase on a busy road … is the essence of what the public needs to be protected from.”

Circuit Judge Melanie Chase sentenced Barnes to 15 years in state prison for the burglary and five years for possession of burglary tools. The sentences will run concurrently.

At trial in April, Leo and prosecutors Joan Jean and Niko Smith presented jurors with store security video and testimony from police officers that proved Barnes, 29, was the ski-masked burglar who broke into Casa Leon Jewelers hours after closing. Carrying a hammer and yellow duffel bag, Barnes discovered the jewelry cases had been emptied by store staff, and he quickly fled in the pickup truck.

Lake Mary Police arrived at the store within minutes in response to a store alarm triggered by broken glass and  alerted other agencies to be on the lookout for the truck. Orlando Police soon spotted the truck, and Barnes led them on a high-speed chase through Pine Hills before getting out of the vehicle and running on foot.  

An Orlando officer testified that as they were pursuing Barnes, he tossed away several items including a yellow duffel bag, a hammer, and a glove the same color the burglar wore in store security video.