A Punta Gorda robbery case that began with a deadly night in an apartment complex parking lot in May 2023 has now reached its final sentencing. Vontavian Hillard received 15 years in prison for robbery with a firearm with actual possession, including a 10-year minimum-mandatory term, followed by 10 years of probation. He was a teenager when the crime occurred.
The case centered on co-defendant Janari Richardson, who shot a man to death in his car in that parking lot and then robbed him. Richardson was sentenced in May 2026 to life in prison for second-degree murder with a firearm, plus 40 years for the robbery. Both defendants were teens at the time, and the case was direct-filed into adult court by the State Attorney’s Office. The Punta Gorda Police Department investigated.
For Gulf Coast residents, this one lands close to home: a fatal robbery in a place where families park their cars every day, and two young defendants receiving vastly different sentences. The debate over trying juveniles as adults isn’t new, but cases like this keep it alive. What do you think: does a 15-year sentence fit the crime, or should the system treat teen defendants differently? Let us know on our Facebook page.
