INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Andrew Coffee IV began crying Tuesday as he pleaded with a judge to have mercy on him and to give him a second chance. Coffee has been sitting at the Indian River County Jail ever since a fatal 2017 drug raid that claimed the life of his girlfriend Alteria Woods.
“I’ve made mistakes. I did my best to correct those mistakes. I’ve been in jail for five years. I want to change for the best, for the people that love me,” Coffee cried out to Circuit Court Judge Dan Vaughn. “I want to visit (Woods’) gravesite. If you give me probation and time served, you won’t regret it.”
More tears were shed inside the courtroom as Coffee, his family and Alteria Woods’ family went before Vaughn for Coffee’s sentencing.
Coffee, now 28, avoided a possible life sentence last November after a six-person jury found him not guilty on murder and attempted murder charges. But, the jury did convict Coffee on a possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge.
Woods was fatally struck 10 times after being caught in a crossfire between Coffee and Indian River County sheriff’s deputies during the overnight raid. Medical examiners later determined Woods died from bullets fired by deputies.
The room was quiet Tuesday as Vaughn prepared to read Coffee’s sentencing. Prosecutors were pushing for a 30-year sentence because of prior unrelated offenses committed by Coffee in Indian River and St. Lucie counties.
Coffee’s family members hugged each other moments before Vaughn laid down the sentencing Tuesday. Vaughn ordered Coffee to serve 10 years at the Florida Department of Corrections with 4.9 years credit time served.
This shortens Coffee’s prison sentence down to about five years and one month, Defense Attorney Adam Chrzan said. Vaughn also designated Coffee as a habitual felony offender and ordered him to pay $200 for costs of prosecution.
Coffee’s defense attorneys have 30 days to appeal Vaughn’s decision.
Drug Raid
Vaughn’s decision concludes a nearly five-year saga stemming from a 5:30 a.m. drug raid March 19, 2017, at a home in the 4500 block of 35th Avenue in Gifford. Coffee, also known as “A.J.,” stayed at the small home with his father – Coffee III – and his grandmother Vivian Scott.
Family members said Coffee – who worked two jobs – was staying at the residence to help take care of Scott and pay bills. Coffee IV was not the target of the raid, authorities said. Deputies were searching for his father instead.
Deputies detained the father Coffee III at the main door of the home while the sky was still dark. SWAT team members then broke a window to a bedroom where the younger Coffee and Woods were sleeping in bed.
Officers said they didn’t know if anyone was inside the room.
SWAT team members detonated a flash bang inside the bedroom. Defense attorneys previously said the bangs can leave a person disoriented by causing temporary blindness and deafness.
SWAT team officers – including those who fired shots in the raid – said they loudly announced themselves by saying “sheriff’s office search warrant” multiple times. Defense attorneys argued Coffee did not hear the announcements above all of the commotion.
“He was sound asleep and woke up to the flash bang and glass shattering,” Chrzan said.
Coffee previously said he fired at what he thought were home intruders, defense attorneys said.
Four months after the raid, prosecutors, using the sheriff’s office investigative findings, exonerated the officers who fired shots. Those officers were identified as Cpl. Patrick White, retired Indian River Shores Officer Richard ‘Rick’ Sarcinello and Sgt. Christopher Reeve. In the same move, prosecutors charged Coffee with Woods’ death and said he committed a felony he knew would cause harm to others.
Prosecutors also charged Coffee with three counts of attempted murder on a law enforcement officer and shooting a missile within a building. At the end of Coffee’s trial, the jury found him not guilty on the murder, attempted murder and shooting a missile within a building charges.
The jury ruled on the possession of firearm by a convicted felon charge separately from the other charges. The jury returned a guilty verdict on the gun charge.
Vaughn denied Coffee’s request for Stand Your Ground immunity last June. Defense attorneys said they plan to appeal Vaughn’s decision, but it was unclear when.
Pleas for a second chance
Coffee’s mother, Towanna Austin, and Woods’ mother, Yolanda Woods, went before Vaughn. Woods described Coffee as a loving, kind person who was destined to be more. Woods said Coffee wanted to make those around him – including Alteria Woods – proud.
“I know the love Andrew has for Alteria,” Woods said. Woods, her voice wavering with emotion, shed tears as she cried out to Vaughn.
“I pray God touches your heart. Choose redemption over revenge,” Woods said. “Coffee has already suffered enough, just as my family lost Alteria. Coffee had to endure and process (Alteria’s) death in jail. I ask that you set him free.”
Austin asked Vaughn to have mercy on Coffee.
“Nobody’s perfect. He has made some mistakes along the way,” Austin said. “He was thinking about going back to school.”
After Vaughn read the sentencing, Coffee’s family and Woods went into the hallway. Austin and Woods cried as they hugged each other.
But, Austin said the tears were not from sadness.
“Me and Yolanda are happy. We want to thank you for believing in A.J.,” Austin told the defense attorneys, detailing how Coffee avoided a much longer sentence. “I’m so grateful for y’all.”
Photos by Kaila Jones
