Hillsborough County detectives are asking for the public's help finding 24-year-old Jeffrey Couzens, who is wanted on a felony charge of domestic violence aggravated battery on a pregnant female. The alert went out Wednesday as part of the sheriff's office's weekly Warrant Wednesday campaign, which asks residents to help track down suspects still on the run across the county.
According to the HCSO
According to the HCSO post, detectives with #teamHCSO are seeking tips on Couzens's current whereabouts. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Chad Chronister, describes its mission as protecting and defending the community while preserving the rights and dignity of all. The post identifies Couzens as wanted on the charge.
What The Charge Means Under Florida Law
Under Florida Statute Section 784.045, a battery against someone known or who should have been known to be pregnant automatically becomes aggravated battery, even if no weapon was used and no severe physical injury occurred, according to Online Sunshine. That statutory language means pregnancy itself functions as an automatic aggravating factor under state law, regardless of the severity of any injuries involved.
The charge is classified as a second-degree felony, which carries a maximum of 15 years in state prison, 15 years of probation, and up to $10,000 in fines, per FindLaw. Florida's Criminal Punishment Code offense severity ranking chart places aggravated battery on a pregnant woman at Level 7 out of 10, according to the Sammis Law Firm, a ranking that factors into the minimum prison points required under state sentencing guidelines.
How Warrant Wednesday Has Worked Before
The sheriff's office has used its Warrant Wednesday push to seek public help finding wanted people.
This is not the first Warrant Wednesday alert Hoodline has covered involving an aggravated battery charge tied to a pregnant victim. In August, deputies sought Tampa man wanted in attack on pregnant victim 32-year-old Xzavelis Tyler on the same type of felony charge, and in June, they sought 20-year-old Deitrick Baldwin on identical domestic violence aggravated battery allegations. The recurrence of similar charges in the weekly campaign reflects a broader pattern rather than any connection between the cases.
Reporting Tips And Getting Help
Anyone with information on Couzens's whereabouts is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 813-247-8200. Tipsters who prefer to stay anonymous can also contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay by phone at 1-800-873-TIPS, online, or through its mobile app, and could qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000 if the tip leads to an arrest, according to Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay.
Anyone with an urgent lead is asked to call the non-emergency line, and callers should dial 911 for emergencies.
The Broader Picture On Domestic Violence In Florida
Cases like this one surface against the broader issue of domestic violence in Florida.
Domestic violence is a broader issue beyond this case.
No additional details about the alleged incident involving Couzens have been released. The warrant remains active, and detectives continue to ask anyone with information to come forward as the search continues.
