State
of Florida
Office of the State Attorney
16th Judicial Circuit
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Office of the State Attorney 16th Judicial Circuit
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Criminal Justice System Overview Employment Opportunities |
September 6, 2005 A Miami man with a long and often brutal criminal history was sentenced late Tuesday to 15 years behind bars for the June 2004 possession and intended sale of crack cocaine in Key West. Acting Circuit Court Judge Wayne Miller also slammed Willie Roy King, 35, with a 45-month concurrent jail term for battery on a police officer for the same incident. King also faces charges in Atlanta for trafficking in cocaine. Prosecutors for State Attorney Mark Kohl say he may be extradited to Georgia to stand trial there. “The message of this sentence is plain and simple,” said Kohl. “If you try to sell cocaine in Monroe County, you will be caught. You will be convicted. And you will go to jail.” In the early morning hours of June 29, 2004, Key West Police Department officers stopped King and two other men at the intersection of Virginia and Whitehead Streets on suspicion of selling drugs. King made a break and Officer J. M. Dorgan gave chase. When Dorgan caught up with the suspect, the two scuffled. It ultimately took pepper spray, handcuffs, a leg-hobble and two other officers to subdue the violent King. Officer Dorgan sustained injuries to the head and upper body. The police officers also found nearly 60 rocks – equaling 9.9 grams – of crack cocaine on King packaged for individual sale. Last year’s attempted drug sale was not King’s first. Several KWPD officers testified at yesterday’s hearing about King’s history of narcotics sales – and about his history of resisting arrest with violence. He was characterized by some officers as one of the most combative suspects they had ever encountered. In 2001 King was convicted of cocaine possession with intent to sell and battery on a law enforcement officer in Key West. He did jail time in Monroe County for those offenses. But apparently that conviction and sentence did not deter King from a career of crime. In fact, King has been charged with 11 felonies spanning 15 years and 3 states, including armed burglary, the possession and sale of cocaine and marijuana and vehicle theft. J. T. Gorman prosecuted the King case for Kohl’s office. “Career drug dealers cause incalculable damage to our community. All Key West should be relieved that King will be off our streets for a long time.” |
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Last modified:
10/23/07
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