Yesterday (May 20), a Brevard County Jury found Matthew SHARP (28) guilty of one count of First Degree Premeditated Murder (CF), one count of Grand Theft Motor Vehicle (F3), and one count of Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card (F3), in connection with the death of Leah Yoresh (34), in January of 2013.

Yoresh was found murdered in her home on 1433 Albert Drive in Melbourne, Florida on January 11, 2013. Six days later on January 17, 2013, Melbourne Police pulled over Yoresh's stolen car and found SHARP, along with two other persons inside. Initially arrested for Grand Theft of the car, Melbourne police later established that SHARP had directed a witness to use Yoresh's credit cards and matched the victim's DNA to blood found on SHARP's shoes. A Grand Jury indicted SHARP for First Degree Murder on March 5, 2013.

After a two week trial, the jury began deliberations yesterday afternoon and returned with a guilty verdict on all counts. The Court sentenced SHARP to Life in Prison without the Possibility of Parole for Count 1. On counts 2 and 3, the defendant was sentenced as a Habitual Felony Offender. increasing the penalty to 10 years in Prison on each count, to be served concurrently with his Life Sentence.
 

Todd Brown
Public Information &
Communications
(321) 617-7310

Office of the State Attorney
18th Judicial Circuit
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson
Way Building D
Viera, Fl. 32940