Miami-Dade County: Life verdict for Anthawn Ragan
On Thursday, after deliberating for over two hours, the jury returned a recommendation that Ragan be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole (LWOP).
Anthawn Ragan was charged with first-degree murder for killing Luis Perez in 2013. The State sought the death penalty.
In 2023, after Florida changed its capital sentencing scheme, Ragan filed several motions disputing the constitutionality of the death penalty and application of Florida’s new statute.
The guilt phase of the trial proceeded earlier this spring. On April 3, after five hours of deliberations, the jury convicted Anthawn Ragan of first-degree murder.
On April 7, the State Attorney for Miami Dade County issued a press release about the conviction stating:
Anthawn Ragan’s long involvement with crime and violence came to an end with the jury’s guilty verdict for the 1st Degree Murder of 21-year-old Luis Perez. Video evidence graphically captured the killing which had no apparent motive with no known connection between the victim and Ragan. With this verdict, these 12 Miami-Dade County citizens have announced that they would not tolerate or excuse such street-level violence. I applaud the talented prosecutorial team of Assistant State Attorney Scott Warfman and Assistant State Attorney Arvind Singh for effectively bringing forth all the essential case elements that led to this verdict.
This week, the case proceeded to the penalty phase. On Thursday, after deliberating for approximately two hours, the jury returned a recommendation that Ragan be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole (LWOP).
Under Florida’s current capital sentencing scheme, the jury must sentence Ragan to LWOP following the jury’s recommendation.
The docket does not reflect the jury’s verdict or a Sentencing Order but shows the case as closed.
News Articles
Miami Herald (guilt phase)
So, does a FL jury's verdict ever get overridden by a sentencing judge if it is unanimous for LWOP?