Man who beat High Springs officer gets 50 years in prison

 has landed him a hefty prison sentence that will make him at least 64 years old before he will see freedom again.

On Monday, 20-year-old Fred Perdue Jr. was sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to all of the charges stemming from the April 5, 2009 incident in which he beat Sgt. Martha Hines. Perdue is required by Florida law to serve a minimum of 10 years and 85% of the remaining 40 years of his sentence, for a total of 44 years.

Perdue was still a teenager last year when he was charged with burglary of a dwelling with a firearm, grand theft of a motor vehicle, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, depriving an officer of their means of communication, attempting to deprive an officer of their weapon, burglary of a motor vehicle with battery, attempted robbery, possession of a concealed handcuff key, possession of a firearm by a delinquent child and possession of a weapon by a delinquent child.

This means he tried to rob a house with a gun, stole a car, tried to steal another car and assaulted someone in the process. He also attacked and beat a police officer, took the officer’s radio and tried to take her gun, all of which are third degree felonies.

Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Bass, who was a co-counsel on the case, explained Perdue is not allowed to carry a gun or other weapon such as a knife because he was labeled as a delinquent due to his juvenile criminal record. Perdue had both a knife and a gun during the incident.

Bass called Perdue “a dangerous individual who victimized some pretty amazing women who persevered.” 

High Springs Police Chief James Troiano said the incident has ended Sgt. Martha Hines' career as a law enforcement officer. She can’t come back to work in her former capacity because of injuries sustained from Perdue’s beating, he said.

Troiano, who arrested Perdue after the incident and testified at Monday's sentencing, said he’s very satisfied with the outcome. Troiano called Perdue “an evil man,” saying he needed to go away for a very long time.

The state originally requested a 40-year sentence, but the judge increased it to 50 years, Troiano said.