Orlando sexual assault suspect has lengthy criminal history, court records show
Orlando sexual assault suspect has lengthy criminal history
A man accused of sexually assaulting and threatening a woman in Orlando has a lengthy criminal history and was previously classified by the court as a violent offender of special concern and a career criminal, according to court records.
ORLANDO, Fla. - A man accused of sexually assaulting and threatening a woman in Orlando has a lengthy criminal history and was previously classified by the court as a violent offender of special concern and a career criminal, according to court records.
Gervin Jawaski Lewis, 46, was arrested Tuesday after police said he threatened a woman with a weapon, sexually assaulted and robbed her in downtown.
Latest allegation
The backstory:
Orlando police responded around 5:40 a.m. Oct. 6 to the 600 block of West Amelia Street after receiving a report that a woman had been attacked.
The victim told officers that a man approached her, threatened her with a weapon and sexually assaulted her before fleeing.
Detectives identified a vehicle associated with the crime and located the suspect, Lewis, a short time later.
Gervin Lewis, 46, was arrested on charges of armed sexual battery, armed robbery, false imprisonment, vehicle burglary and hindering 911 communications.
Lewis was arrested on charges of armed sexual battery, armed robbery, false imprisonment, vehicle burglary and hindering 911 communications.
Police said Lewis also had an outstanding arrest warrant from another county.
"Our officers acted quickly and decisively to apprehend this dangerous individual," Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said. "Their investigative work and determination got him off our streets and demonstrate our commitment to providing the service our community deserves."
Lewis was booked into the Orange County Jail. His first court appearance had been scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed until Thursday.
Court records detail criminal history
Dig deeper:
An arrest report describes Lewis as having a lengthy criminal history, including prior prison sentences and a separate Marion County case.
Court records cited in the report show Lewis has faced cases involving drugs, burglary, battery and domestic violence dating back decades.
Lewis served two years in prison for cocaine possession beginning in 2000 and, after spending several months out of custody, served nine years for burglary.
In a 2019 case, Lewis acknowledged that he could have faced life in prison after breaking into his girlfriend’s home, grabbing and shoving her and stealing her belongings. Instead, he accepted a plea agreement that resulted in a nine-month jail sentence.
Lewis was later sentenced to three years in prison after violating probation.
Previous sexual offense case
The latest arrest is not the first time Lewis has been accused of a sexual offense.
He was sentenced to one year for indecent exposure in Santa Rosa County in 2009, according to the report.
Separate case in Marion County
Lewis is also wanted in Marion County on allegations of human trafficking and soliciting sex from a minor.
According to the report, a 16-year-old told investigators she had been spending time with Lewis several times a week when he allegedly offered her drugs in exchange for sex.
The Marion County investigation remains ongoing.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Orlando Police Department and Chief Eric Smith, court filings and arrest records from Orange, Marion, and Santa Rosa counties.