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Cantonment Man Convicted Of Sexual Assault, Carjacking; Faces Up To Life In Prison
August 8, 2015
A Cantonment carjacking and sexual assault suspect has been found guilty in Escambia County Circuit Court. He now faces up to life in prison when sentenced next month.
Eddie Lee Atkins, age 27 of 622 Muscogee Road, was convicted Friday by an Escambia County Jury of sexual battery with force likely to cause serious bodily injury, attempted sexual battery with force likely to cause serious bodily injury, burglary of a conveyance with assault and battery and carjacking without a weapon for two separate attacks on September 18, 2014. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said DNS evidence linked Atkins to both crimes.
At approximately 8:15 a.m., a carjacking was reported at the Raceway gas station at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road. The 55-year old victim went inside the store to make a purchase and pay for gasoline. After she pumped her gas, she found that Atkins had allegedly entered her unlocked vehicle and concealed himself in the backseat. The victim did not see Atkins and drove away from the store with him in the vehicle.
Atkins ordered the victim to drive to a particular location and when she disobeyed his orders, he jumped in the front seat and began beating her multiple times in the face. Finally, the victim was able to stop the car, at which time Atkins pushed her out and stole the car.
Within 20 minutes, the stolen vehicle was located at the intersection of Pine Street and Booth Avenue. The second female victim was jogging past the area when Atkins attacked her and dragged her into the woods where he sexually battered and beat her.
A little more than 15 minutes later, the attempted sexual battery of a female jogger was reported on Rocky Avenue. The victim reported that as she was jogging when an unknown black male suspect grabbed her from behind and dragged her into awooded area. Once there he struck her in the face and attempted to remove her clothing but the victim fought back and was able to escape.
DNA evidence found inside the vehicle linked Eddie Lee Atkins to the crime. He was subsequently identified by the second victim in a photographic lineup.
Circuit Judge Jennie Kinsey scheduled Eddie Lee Atkins to be sentenced on September 1 at 1:30 p.m. at which time he is facing up to life in prison.
Atkins was released from prison in August 2013 and has a prior criminal history that includes robbery, two aggravated assaults, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Prosecutors will seek to have Atkins sentenced as a prison releasee reoffender.
Comments
12 Responses to “Cantonment Man Convicted Of Sexual Assault, Carjacking; Faces Up To Life In Prison”
BACK WHEN THIS HAPPENED I RECALL MAKING A COMMENT THAT HE MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON OR JAIL AND HAD AN AGENDA TO HOOK UP WITH A FEMALE. I was so close to right and I’m just wondering if the POLICE did some checking on my comment that might have helped find this scum bag as soon as they did. GETERDONE.
WOW. Glad they found this guy as quickly as possible. And yes, DNA does not lie -otherwise, we wouldn’t be using it for paternity tests, identifying crimes/criminals. Anyone who thinks a man like this should go free are just as demented as this guy. If you think it is okay to carjack, sexually assault ppl and then run the streets to do it time and time again- -well that is just scary.
We all must take precautions today. Long gone are the days one could leave a vehicle unlocked. A shame! There are those among us who look for opportunities. “If it isn’t locked up tight and out of sight, it is free for the taking” is their mentality. Shame we let them take the only moral standards out of schools. Just teaching it is wrong to steal and hurt, won’t change some mindsets. There must be a fear of God! Because there is no fear of LEs.
REGARDING:
“Remember my name cause he will not rot in prison.”
Just so he rots.
Err, I mean, how terrible.
And yes, we will try to remember your name.
David for noting monsters and madness
Another vicious animal posing as a human being. Bury him.
@Theresa.. How did ole Eddie’s DNA get in the vehicle?????? They trying to set him up????
He deserves whatever he gets.. DNA doesn’t lie and anyone who thinks otherwise is an arrogant fool! Yall can say all day long oh it wasn’t him and blah blah blah but apparently it was him! What if he did this to your daughter? Or sister? Or mother? How would you feel then? Would you still have your “friends” back? Would you try to justify him? Get a grip on reality man… he’s got a rap sheet a Mile long. He is NOT innocent! He needs to sit where’s he’s at so no other woman has to worry about being harrassed! Sorry that yalls friend is a loser who decided to screw up and ruin his life along with innocent women’s lives!!!! Grow up, shut up, and let him do the time for his crime!
Eddie is innocent. There is another man who confessed to these crimes. Do you think he was convicted? No! This ain’t over yet. I promise yall that!! Remember my name cause he will not rot in prison.
FREE HIM!
They won’t put him down, best we can hope for is notification of his death from prison whether untimely or death from old age in the cage…
He is a predator who preys on women. They give sentance enhancements for hate crimes based on race, why not gender ?
Life in prison……………..NO WAY……like a rabid animal, he should just be put down.