On Thursday (Oct 13), a Brevard County Jury convicted Arthur HARRIS (38), on two (2) counts of Aggravated Battery (F2), and one (1) count each of High Speed Fleeing and Attempting to Elude (F2), Grand Theft Motor Vehicle (F3), and Felony Driving While License Revoked (F3). for incidents stemming from a fight with his former friend. After a four-day trial with evidence presented by Assistant State Attorneys Nicole Hosey and Ann Perrin, the jury deliberated for just over three hours before returning with the guilty verdicts. HARRIS was acquitted on one count of Possession of Controlled Substance (F3).

 

Circuit Court Judge Robert Segal presided over the trial and remanded HARRIS into custody at the Brevard County Jail until sentencing set for December 1, 2022, at 1:15 pm in Viera. HARRIS faces a maximum combined sentence of 55 years in state prison.

 

On June 1, 2021, just before 11:30 pm, Palm Bay Police responded to a 911 call of a battery in progress at the residence of Fela Wagnon (42), and her son Alexander Garcia (21), on Hester Avenue. Wagnon reported that she had been violently attacked by HARRIS and was in the backseat of her vehicle, trying to prevent HARRIS from stealing it. 

 

Responding officers chased the black Dodge Journey driven by HARRIS with Wagnon in the backseat, from Babcock Road, onto Malabar Road, and then northbound on I-95 until being disabled by stop sticks near the Wickham Road exit. HARRIS refused orders to exit the vehicle and kept Wagnon trapped in the rear seat for several minutes until she escaped. The stand-off lasted more than an hour before HARRIS was forcibly taken into custody by police.

 

In a statement after the verdict ASA Hosey thanked the jury for it's verdict and said "Breaking the cycle of domestic and dating violence begins with victims getting help. This case sends a strong message that it can also end with prison time for their abusers".