On Monday (Oct 9), Circuit Judge Donna Goerner sentenced Donald BERG (54), to ten years in state prison after a Seminole County Jury convicted him on August 29, 2023, for Battery on an Emergency Medical Care Worker (F3), stemming from an incident in 2022.

 

In a one-day trial with evidence presented by Assistant State Attorney Anna Valentini, the jury deliberated just under one (1) hour before returning with the guilty verdict. This charge would typically carry a five-year sentence, however BERG is a Habitual Felony Offender and qualified for the imposed maximum ten-year sentence.

 

On June 22, 2022, the Longwood Police Department responded to South Seminole Hospital where an Emergency Room Paramedic, Ray Correa had been attacked by BERG. It was learned that BERG had been transported to the hospital after consuming a meal at a restaurant and complaining of chest pain. Once at the hospital, BERG became impatient, threatened to kill medical staff, and then began striking a glass partition with his hands. While attempting to stop BERG, Correa was struck in the face and had to be assisted in that effort by other staff.

 

BERG's felony criminal history includes prior incidents of attempting to obtain goods and services without paying, and battery on emergency medical personnel.

 

In a statement after the sentencing ASA Valentini thanked the Jury for their diligence and added "Mr. BERG has continued to commit violent felony crimes in our community, and in this instance by threatening and attacking emergency room medial staff attempting to care for him. That's simply unacceptable."

 

In the coming days, BERG will be transferred to the Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.