Pensacola Man Sentenced Under Florida’s 10-20-Life Law

November 4, 2016

Pensacola, FL – Ladell La’ Duars Wheeler was convicted by a jury of his peers and was sentenced to 20 Years in State Prison.

On Monday, June 15, 2015 at around 11:30 PM in the 400 block of East Bobe Street, the victim was standing in his front yard talking on his cell phone. The victim told the Pensacola Police Department that an unknown black male,

later identified as Ladell Wheeler, approached him and demanded money. When the victim informed him he did not have any, Wheeler produced a firearm. The victim grabbed Wheeler’s arm and the two began to struggle.

The victim told police that Wheeler then started to run off, stopped and fired the handgun in the air. The victim stated he then went in his house and came back out a few minutes later. The victim stated he saw Wheeler, who was still nearby, point the gun at him and fired it twice more before fleeing the area.

Police arrested Wheeler in the area of Seventh Avenue and Yonge Street. The victim was not injured in the incident.

Ladell Ladarius Wheeler was convicted by an Escambia County Jury of Attempted Robbery with a Firearm that was discharged at the victim and misdemeanor offenses of Possession of a Firearm with Serial Number Removed, and Resisting a Law Enforcement Officer Without Violence. Following the conviction, Wheeler was sentenced under Florida’s 10-20-Life law by the Honorable Senior Circuit Judge Paul Rasmussen, to serve a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in state prison for Attempted Robbery with a Firearm. Wheeler’s prison sentence is to be followed by two years in the Escambia County Jail for the misdemeanor convictions. He must serve the entire minimum mandatory 20 years without any time off for good behavior.

The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Pensacola Police Department. Assistant State Attorney John Dubose prosecuted the case.