Duval County Jury Finds Way Guilty of Manslaughter by Overdose
Jury Finds Smith Guilty of Aggravated Battery, Other Crimes
Published on: November 29, 2023
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 a Duval County jury found Detrich Smith guilty of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Following the trial, Smith was sentenced to 13 years in Florida State Prison with the applicable minimum mandatory in accordance with Florida law. The Honorable London Kite presided over the trial and sentencing.
On Nov. 12, 2022, officers with Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on the Northside of Jacksonville in reference to an armed domestic dispute. The victim notified officers that her ex-boyfriend showed up to her daughter’s home uninvited. As the victim arrived, Smith pushed his way into the home and into her bedroom where he struck her multiple times with a firearm. Smith fled the scene. The victim’s grandson witnessed the attack.
Smith is a previously convicted felon and is not legally allowed to possess a firearm.
The case was investigated by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Crystal Ganpath-Freed and Charles Lee Wingard Jr.