OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY – A Key West man convicted of shooting and paralyzing an acquaintance

KEY WEST, March 13, 2019 – A Key West man convicted of shooting and paralyzing an acquaintance in a dispute over money has been sentenced to 25 years in Florida State Prison.

On March 12, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones gave Anthony Valdes Jr. the mandatory minimum sentence as authorized by state law. Prison will be followed by five years of probation. He also owes the State Attorney’s Office $10,145 for the cost of his prosecution, which included bringing in expert witnesses.

On February 15, a six-person jury convicted Valdes, 43, of aggravated battery on Ray Anthony Alvarez, 31, following a week-long trial. The mandatory minimum sentence is because Valdes possessed and discharged a firearm causing great bodily harm. He had been charged with attempted second-degree murder but the jury convicted him of a lesser-included offense.

The shooting happened a little after midnight on October 15, 2016, at Valdes’ home on Duck Avenue in Key West. It left Alvarez paralyzed from the waist down and he now relies on a wheelchair/scooter. He needs assistance with activities of daily living such as going to the bathroom, bathing and dressing.

“Mr. Valdes has ruined my life,” he testified at sentencing. “I wake up in pain, I go to bed in pain…. It’s just an ongoing battle.”

In testimony, the state and the defense agreed Alvarez and Valdes had been acquaintances for years and that Alvarez went to Valdes’ house the night of the shooting. They also agreed that while at the house, Alvarez stole more than $300.

When confronted by Valdes, Alvarez initially denied stealing the money but then admitted it and said he gave the money back, according to testimony. However, Valdes maintained Alvarez refused to admit taking the money and the situation escalated in the house. The argument inside spilled into the front yard.

While the two were in the yard arguing, someone living across the street called 911 after gunshots were heard. Valdes had shot Alvarez in the back, as well as in his leg and arm, according to testimony and evidence entered into the record. Valdes’ significant other called 911 more than two minutes after the first 911 caller. At trial, she testified that after the shooting, Valdes found the money in one of Alvarez’s shoes while Alvarez was on the ground after being shot.

Valdes’ defense was Alvarez became more aggressive as they argued about the money and that he was in fear for his life and acted in self-defense. Alvarez testified he was “pleading for my life” while Valdes was pointing the gun at him inside the house and that he had tried to leave the house after returning the money.

Noting Alvarez’s debilitating injuries and needs for family assistance, and that Valdes will be in prison until he is nearly 70 years old and can’t see his children, Judge Jones said, “We all agree it’s not just these two men. It’s their families” that are affected, as well.

“There are no winners here,” he said, but added that “there’s no question this is an egregious crime.”

Assistant state attorneys Val Winter and Christine Poist represented the state.

Contact: Public Information Officer Larry Kahn, (305)-289-2899.

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