Jury Delivers Guilty Verdict for Home Invasion in The Villages; DNA and Surveillance Footage Key to Conviction
MARION COUNTY, Fla. —A Marion County jury has found Robert Leroy Connor II, 57, of Ocala, guilty on all charges related to a violent home invasion and robbery that took place in The Villages in June 2023. The verdict was handed down on Friday, September 12, 2025, in the courtroom of Judge Timothy McCourt.
Connor was convicted of Robbery with a Weapon, two counts of False Imprisonment While Armed, and Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle. He remains in custody pending a presentencing investigation and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in state prison.
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The harrowing incident began on June 12, 2023, when Connor approached a residence in The Villages. According to court testimony, he rang the doorbell and feigned distress, asking the resident to refill a water bottle. The victim, concerned for his well-being, invited him inside. A second victim provided Connor with a glass of water. Once inside, Connor’s demeanor changed. He asked to use a phone, but instead of making a call, he brandished a firearm and demanded money from both victims.
When the victims’ cash was deemed insufficient, Connor demanded their bank account information. The situation escalated when he put a gun to the head of one of the victims. He then bound both victims’ hands and arms, immobilizing them while he ransacked the home, searching through rooms and a jewelry box.
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Connor then stole the keys to the victims’ vehicle and headed to the garage. During his escape, one of the victims managed to reach the garage door and lock it, as well as the front door. Noticing he was trapped, Connor attempted to kick in the front door before fleeing in the victims’ stolen car.
The stolen vehicle was later recovered, and investigators were able to link Connor to the crime through a combination of evidence. Surveillance video showed him abandoning the car, and DNA evidence collected from both the vehicle and the victims’ home matched his profile. Law enforcement found multiple traces of his DNA, which led to his apprehension.
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Assistant State Attorneys Tucker O’Neill and Shanae Pickens successfully prosecuted the case. Following the verdict, Connor was remanded to custody to await his sentencing hearing.
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