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Winter Haven Man Guilty In Bartow Drug House Slaying

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 3, 2009

Updated: 03/03/2009 04:18 pm

Jermaine Julian (2007 photo)

TAMPA - A 26-year-old man faces a possible death sentence after being convicted this afternoon on federal murder, robbery and drug charges in connection with the 2006 robbery of a Bartow drug house.

Jurors will return to court Wednesday to begin hearing evidence on whether to sentence Jermaine Michael Julian, of Winter Haven, to death for the slaying of Carlton Potts, 22.

This is the first federal death penalty trial in Tampa that officials can remember. The federal death penalty law was enacted in 1988 and expanded in 1994.

Prosecutors said Julian and at least two other men burst into a house known as "the Carter" carrying guns and beat the three occupants, including Potts. The victims were lined up on the floor and Julian fired his gun four times, although the weapon jammed three times. Potts was killed by a single gunshot wound through his chest.

The defense said the situation was not as prosecutors portrayed it, and that one of the drug dealers who lived in the house may have tampered with evidence.

Jurors began deliberations about 3 p.m. Monday and continued until 10 p.m. They returned at 9 a.m. today to resume. About 1 p.m., the jury sent a note to U.S. District Judge James Whittemore.

"The jury is completely deadlocked on the murder charges and will not reach a unanimous decision," the note stated.

Whittemore read the jury a standard court instruction urging the panel to try again, noting that if the jurors failed to reach a conclusion, another trial would likely result.

About two hours later, the verdict was reached.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

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