P R E S S R E L E A S E
December 20, 2016
State of Florida v. Robert Mark Gelles
DOB: 08/08/1952
2015-304712 CFDB – 2nd Degree Murder
POPD Case # 150007859
Date of Offense: 09/13/2015
Gelles Sentenced to Life in Prison for Road Rage Shooting
DAYTONA BEACH – On October 20, 2016, 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 following a 4-day trial. Gelles was sentenced today, December 20, 2016 to life in prison.
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 took 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 pronounced sentence.
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
(386)239-7710
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