Sumter County: Ronnie Brown declared intellectually disabled

After agreement of the parties, the trial court ruled that Brown meets the criteria under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.203 for being intellectually disabled.

In early 2020, Ronnie Brown was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly beating and raping a retired, elderly, beloved Air Force veteran who had befriended him and his wife, before she passed, and actually helped take care of Brown’s wife before she passed as well.

In February 2020, the State filed its Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty, listing five aggravating factors.

In September 2023, the defense filed a 200-page motion asking the Court to determine that Brown is intellectually disabled and, therefore, his execution is barred. (The Motion is not publicly available.)

On March 6, 2024, the Court held a case management conference. In early May, experts filed their reports after evaluating Brown, which are not publicly availably. On May 8, the trial court entered an Order declaring Brown intellectually disabled.

According to the Order, the parties agreed that Brown “meets the criteria” under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.203 as being intellectually disabled “such that the death penalty is not applicable to the Defendant with regard to this case.” Accordingly, the Court entered an Order to that effect.