FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erin Maloney, Communications Director
Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
(813) 557-3366 | Erin.Maloney@sao13th.com
TAMPA, Fla. (July 14, 2023) — A prolific violent criminal will spend the rest of his life in prison after the State Attorney’s Office successfully prosecuted Orbro Bailey for second-degree murder and robbery with a deadly weapon. After the jury convicted him, a judge sentenced Bailey to two consecutive life sentences for the crimes that occurred in the summer of 2021. Bailey shot and killed a man during a robbery after being released from prison just six weeks earlier following a 30-year stint behind bars for a string of previous violent robberies.
The State Attorney’s Office chose to retry the case after the original trial resulted in a hung jury in April of 2023. The only way to keep the community safe from this violent offender was to retry the case and pursue justice for the victims. A judge sentenced him to three life sentences on Thursday, two of them to be served consecutively.
“Given the facts of this case and this defendant’s history of violence, our office was determined to ensure this hardened criminal did not have a chance to claim another victim. He will spend the rest of his life behind bars where he can think about the choices he made and the life he stole. My thoughts are with the victim’s family, and I hope this conviction provides them closure and comfort,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez.
State Attorney Lopez leads a team of dedicated prosecutors and professional staff that are responsible for all criminal prosecutions in the 13th Judicial Circuit. The State Attorney’s Office is dedicated to keeping the public informed about the outcomes of major court cases to ensure transparency and accountability. We believe it is of utmost importance for the public to understand how our justice system operates in order to build trust. To learn more about the outcome of cases prosecuted in our office, you can follow us on social media:
- Twitter: @HillsboroughSAO, @SuzyLopezSA
- Instagram: @HillsboroughStateAttorney
- Facebook: @HillsboroughSAO
About the State Attorney’s Office
The State Attorney’s Office of the 13th Judicial circuit encompasses all of Hillsborough County, including the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City. The office staff consists of approximately 320 dedicated public servants including 130 prosecutors, as well as investigators, victim advocates, and support staff. The office handles approximately 50,000 cases every year. To learn more about the organization or apply to become part of the team, visit www.sao13th.com.