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Man gets 10 years in purse snatching and battery incident involving elderly

By Staff | May 20, 2009

A Fort Myers man accused of attacking and robbing a 90-year-old woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison following a one-day trial Tuesday.
A Lee County jury found Henry McCant Jr., 20, guilty of robbery by sudden snatching and battery of a person 65 or older after only an hour of deliberations in Judge Edward Volz’s courtroom.
McCant Jr. snatched Evelyn Machette’s purse and knocked her to the ground, injuring Machette, Nov. 7 at 3853 Cleveland Ave. near the Edison Mall.
“I think the sentencing was justified, but it’s so sad that a young man like that should behave that way and then spend 10 years of his life in prison,” Machette said Tuesday.
She declined further comment, citing emotional stress from the trial.
Machette was a state’s witness during the trial, according to State Attorney’s Office spokesperson Samantha Syoen.
“We are very satisfied with the verdict and with the sentencing, and we’re proud of the victim for having the strength to take the stand and face her attacker,” Syoen said.
McCant Jr. was also arrested Dec. 4 on drug charges after officials said he sold cocaine to an undercover officer.
Docket information from the Lee County Clerk of Courts indicates McCant Jr. was scheduled to stand trial for a third-degree felony drug charge as well Tuesday, however information regarding the charge was not available by press time.