A Central Florida woman was sentenced for striking the victim with her vehicle, reversing her van before placing the vehicle in drive and accelerating towards the victim.
49-year-old Jeannie Potter was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison, after being found guilty of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon by a jury.
Potter was originally arrested just two days before Christmas in 2024, after deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home off Corrine Ave. in Spring Hill in reference to a battery. When officials arrived on scene, they observed a white minivan crashed into the garage area of the home and located the victim, who had injuries from the crash, as well as the defendant.
The victim relayed to law enforcement that the defendant, later identified as Potter, had arrived at the home shortly before the incident. The victim indicated that an active court order was in place, prohibiting Potter from entering the property. Despite this, the defendant pulled into the driveway, exited her vehicle, and proceeded to rip off numerous security cameras from the outside of the home.
When the victim exited the home to confront the defendant, Potter got inside her vehicle, drove straight at the victim, and bumped the victim with the van. The victim recorded the incident by cell phone video.
After striking the victim the first time with the vehicle, Potter is seen reversing the van once more, before placing the vehicle in drive and accelerating towards the victim. The victim sustained injuries to their leg and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The defendant was also transported for treatment of injuries.
At the hospital, deputies obtained statements from Potter, who indicated she was upset the victim had sold what she believed was her rightful property. After admitting to ripping off security cameras from the home, the defendant stated she got into her vehicle and accelerated towards the garage while the victim was standing in front of it. Potter advised that she did not hit the brake soon enough and accidentally hit the victim.
After obtaining witness statements and reviewing the evidence from the investigation, Jeannie Potter was arrested and charged.
This Central Florida case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Kasey Whitson and Heather Errede.
