Office of the State Attorney

P R E S S   R E L E A S E    

October 20, 2016

State of Florida v. Robert Mark Gelles      

DOB: 08/08/1952                                                                  

2015-304712 CFDB – 2^nd Degree Murder

POPD Case # 150007859

Date of Offense: 09/13/2015

 

Gelles Convicted on Second Degree Murder Charge in Road Rage Shooting

 

DAYTONA BEACH – A Volusia County Jury deliberated just over 3 hours before convicting Robert Mark Gelles, 64, of Second Degree Murder in the shooting death of Joseph Edgar Bailey, 44, of New Smyrna Beach. Gelles faces a maximum sentence of life in prison at a hearing to be set. Circuit Judge Terence R. Perkins ordered a Pre-Sentencing Investigation (PSI) prior to the sentencing. Gelles’ conviction comes after a 4-day trial that begin on Monday of this week and concluded today, Thursday, October 20, 2016, at approximately 3pm.

 

            On September 13, 2015, Robert Gelles and Joseph Bailey were involved in a road-rage altercation that culminated in Gelles shooting Bailey in the chest with a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun. Gelles had claimed he fired the shot in self-defense. The shooting take place in Port Orange near the intersection of US1 and Dunlawton Avenue.  

 

            Assistant State Attorney Heatha Trigones, of the State Attorney’s Homicide Unit, prosecuted the case. Circuit Judge Terence R. Perkins presided over the case and will pronounce sentence.

 

Please see attached Information and 707.

 

For more information contact:

 

Spencer S. Hathaway

Public Information Officer / Assistant State Attorney

Office of R.J. Larizza

State Attorney, Seventh Judicial Circuit

251 N. Ridgewood Avenue

HathawayS@SAO7.org

(386)239-7710