James Talbert, 43, was found guilty on November 30 by a Brevard County Jury of Sexual Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Kidnapping, Aggravated Stalking, False Imprisonment, and Battery.

This follows a complaint lodged with the Titusville Police Department in early February 2022. The case dates back to January 2022, when the victim reported a sexual battery at 2201 Harrison Street, Titusville.

Titusville Police Officer Baez initiated the investigation, uncovering a series of events that began with Talbert’s incessant harassment and culminated in a night of terror. The victim, a former co-worker of Talbert, recounted his relentless efforts to contact her, including threats to release private photos, which led to a coerced meeting.

On January 14, 2022, Talbert picked the victim up from work, taking her to his residence. What followed was a harrowing ordeal where the victim, after a verbal altercation, was prevented from leaving, threatened with a knife, and subjected to sexual battery.

The victim’s attempts to escape were met with physical aggression, leading to multiple injuries. This traumatic episode was exacerbated by Talbert’s continuous harassment and threats post-incident, as evidenced by numerous texts, emails, and voicemails.

The four-day trial, overseen by Circuit Judge Tesha Scolaro Ballou, featured evidence presented by Assistant State Attorneys Rebecca Price and Kerri-Ann McGuire. A pivotal moment in the trial was the playback of a controlled phone call conducted at the Titusville Police Department, where Talbert made incriminating statements.

Despite Talbert’s claims of innocence regarding the sexual assault and other charges, the jury, after five hours of deliberation, returned guilty verdicts.

Judge Scolaro Ballou has scheduled the sentencing for January 5, 2024, at 1:30 pm. With Talbert facing a minimum of 25 years to a potential life sentence in state prison, the community anticipates a fitting conclusion to a case that has highlighted the severe consequences of such criminal actions.