Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Shooting Two Orange County Deputies

POSTED: 12:15 pm EST January 31, 2008
UPDATED: 8:52 am EST February 1, 2008

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Thursday afternoon, Ernest Simmons was on trial for attempted murder. He was accused of firing shots that hit Orange County Deputies John Siller and Curtis Barnes.

Thursday, a jury found him guilty on five counts including attempted murder of the two deputies.

It was standing room only as more than three dozen Orange County deputies sat in the courtroom to get justice for two of their own. Prosecutors told the jury that Ernest Simmons fired the shots that hit deputies John Siller and Curtis Barnes.

In court, Thursday, prosecutors said Ernest Simmons made a choice to shoot two deputies even though he said he accidentally shot at them 11 times with 2 different guns.

The defense argued that what Simmons did was nothing more than a freak accident and said he should only be charged with aggravated battery, not attempter murder.

In May of 2007, the deputies were working security at a crime prevention conference at the Caribe Royal Hotel in the Disney area when they spotted Simmons, Juan Rivera, and Lenlonnie Clark breaking into a vehicle. Prosecutors said Simmons shot Barnes in his right arm. Siller was hit in the chest.

The only thing that saved Deputy Siller was his bullet proof vest.

Prosecutors dropped the attempted murder charge against the other two suspects in exchange for their testimony. They will still be charged with burglary.

Teen Charged As Adult For Allegedly Shooting At Man For Target Practice

POSTED: 5:54 pm EST February 1, 2008

TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- A 14-year-old boy accused of shooting a man just for sport is being charged as an adult.
Demetrius Jordan made his first appearance in court Friday for allegedly shooting a man for target practice on Hopkins Avenue in Titusville two weeks ago. Luckily, the victim was able to recover.