Lewis Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2018 Murder of Jessie Sumlar
William Barber Committed As Sexually Violent Predator
Published on: June 20, 2019
Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida
www.sao4th.com
Melissa W Nelson
State Attorney
311 West Monroe Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202-4242
(904) 255-2500
State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that William Junior Barber, of Jacksonville, was unanimously committed by a jury as a Sexually Violent Predator. He will be confined at the Florida Civil Commitment Center in Arcadia, Florida, for long-term control, care and treatment.
Barber’s first arrest for a sexually motivated offense was in 1998 in Escambia County. Over the next 15 years Barber would be arrested for an additional five sexually motivated offenses covering Escambia and Duval counties. The jury heard that Barber’s offense pattern, coupled with his personality disorder, made him likely to sexually reoffend if not confined for treatment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Anna Hixon and Jessica Hensley.