An Arkansas man was sentenced to 90 years in prison Tuesday after a two-day trial for invading a home last summer and beating a resident unconscious.
Andre Leonard Flowers, 36, who has remained in custody on zero bond since his arrest Aug. 15, 2017, was found guilty of aggravated residential burglary and sentenced to 60 years in prison. He got 30 years for first-degree battery, with the sentences to run consecutively.
The nine-man, three-woman Garland County Circuit Court jury deliberated for only 25 minutes before finding Flowers guilty of both charges and "about the same length of time" before recommending the sentences, Deputy Prosecutor Ron Jones said Thursday.
Jones noted there was medical evidence presented during the trial Monday that indicated the victim, 40, had been strangled to the point of unconsciousness, causing brain injuries. Jones said the victim, who has no memory of the attack, testified how his life has been "altered forever" by the injuries he sustained.
"He explained to the jury what his life was like before and after what happened," Jones said, noting the injuries left the victim in a condition "very similar to having a stroke." He said he has trouble speaking and walks with a cane because of partial paralysis on his left side. A neurosurgeon also testified at trial about the extent of the victim's injuries.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police responded to the apartments at 2000 Central Ave. in reference to a disturbance on June 22, 2017, and arrived to find the victim unconscious and struggling to breathe, lying in the hallway outside his apartment.
Detectives spoke with the victim's girlfriend, who was present during the attack, authorities said.
She said Flowers pulled out a knife during the altercation and the victim grabbed one, too, to defend himself. After the two "exchanged words," the victim turned to walk back inside. At that point, Flowers "rushed" him, pushing him inside and striking him about his head and face, court documents show.
The victim was transported to an area hospital with several injuries, including a contusion near his left eye, which was swollen shut, and bruising along the center of his neck.
A CT scan revealed the victim sustained bleeding on the brain, swelling in his neck and there were preliminary indications of a lack of oxygen to the brain.
The victim's mother later told police her son would most likely have to go into a long-term assisted living facility due to the brain damage.
Flowers was arrested Aug. 15 after a two-hour standoff with police at his listed residence on Lawson Street, which prompted the evacuation of a nearby day care as a precaution. After Flowers ignored repeated commands to come out, SWAT members introduced several flash-bangs into the house and then tear gas and he finally surrendered.
Flowers' accomplice, Jeremy Douglas James, 36, was set to stand trial beginning Wednesday on the same charges but opted to plead guilty that morning to the charge of first-degree battery while the aggravated residential burglary charge was withdrawn. After a one-day hearing, a six-man, six-woman jury sentenced him to 15 years in prison.