DELAND, Fla. — A man from DeLand who killed a well-liked restaurant manager in Daytona Beach in 2021 has been sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Michael Harris Jr. admitted his guilt in a crime that began with an unexpected encounter on a dating app.
During the sentencing hearing, the 22-year-old chose not to testify and instead had his attorney and a defense forensic psychologist speak on his behalf.
The psychologist claimed that Harris expressed remorse for the murder of Bobby Scott, the manager of Caribbean Jack’s Restaurant, stating that he didn’t understand why he did it.
“He said, ‘I wasn’t even aware of my actions at that moment. I can’t believe I committed such an act. I despise myself for it,'” recited defense forensic psychologist Dr. Lisa Potash.
According to prosecutors, the victim, Scott, met his killer through a dating app in January 2021. When Scott didn’t return home, his loved ones reported him missing.
Several days later, Scott’s severely beaten body was discovered in a wooded area off Old New York Avenue in DeLand. Shortly thereafter, Harris, the defendant, was found driving the victim’s vehicle with blood evidence inside. Scott’s sister urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence of 50 years on Harris.
“We don’t want another family to endure the pain of losing their loved one in such a horrifying manner at his hands,” said Lesa Hall, the victim’s sister.
The judge sentenced Harris to 45 years in the Department of Corrections.
Judge Elizabeth Blackburn acknowledged the defense’s testimony that Harris, at only 22 years old, had already faced a challenging life, with numerous upbringing-related issues leading him astray.
However, she described Scott’s murder as senseless and characterized Harris’s actions on the day of the crime and the subsequent days as deliberate.
“Mr. Harris viciously attacked the victim and made a series of very intentional choices and actions,” she remarked.
Harris’s mother and sister were present in the courtroom but did not testify on his behalf and swiftly left after the judge delivered the sentence.
Initially, Harris faced an indictment on a first-degree murder charge, but in exchange for his plea, prosecutors reduced it to second-degree murder, carrying a maximum prison term of 50 years.
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