June 16, 2017

A Pensacola man has been sentenced to prison for the 2015 rape of a teenager.

State Attorney Bill Eddins announced that Don Ricardo Byrd, III, age 36, was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford to 25 years in state prison.  Since there is no parole in the State of Florida, Byrd will be required to serve at least 85% of his sentence.  At the completion of his prison sentence, Byrd will serve 10 years of Sexual Offender probation.  He was also designated as a Sexual Predator as a result of his convictions, and he will have to register as such for the rest of his life.

On May 3, 2017, an Escambia County Jury convicted Don Ricardo Byrd, II of Sexual Battery, Unlawful Sexual Activity with Certain Minors, and Battery on a Child by Expelling Certain Fluids.

In October 2015, Don Ricardo Byrd approached the teenage victim at the ECAT depot on Fairfield Drive.  He led the girl away from the bus station and sexually battered her.  The victim was unable to identify her attacker, but she was able to give a general description of the suspect.  The victim sustained injuries from the attack, and DNA evidence was collected during her sexual assault examination.  As a result, Don Byrd was developed as a suspect, and his DNA sample was submitted for analysis.  Byrd’s DNA matched the DNA found during the victim’s sexual assault examination.

The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.