UPDATE: A controversial plea deal has led to urgent scrutiny over the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office following the release of 26-year-old Tyler Feight, who was accused of attempting to rape a jogger in College Park this past April. Feight, who was released from the Orange County Jail on November 20, 2023, is now under review after being offered a deal that allowed him to avoid a formal conviction.
The plea agreement mandates that Feight serve three years of probation, undergo “psychosexual evaluation and treatment,” and refrain from contacting the victim or entering a three-block radius around the site of the attack on Northumberland Avenue. This decision has sparked outrage among local residents, many of whom took to social media to express their concerns over his release, given his troubling history.
Residents of College Park are alarmed; one Facebook user exclaimed, “How is he out?!?!” while another urged caution, stating, “Literally avoid him at all costs!!!” Following his release, several community members reported sightings of Feight, raising fears about potential reoffending.
Feight’s plea deal came after he pleaded no contest to felony battery, a charge elevated due to a prior conviction for a similar crime in 2022. In a surprising move, despite the serious allegations against him, he was not formally convicted, which means the conviction will not appear on his record. The Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office has confirmed that the decision made by Assistant State Attorney Zachary Cole is under review, citing it as an oversight.
The office stated, “The prosecutor’s supervisors have been notified and will review the matter and take appropriate personnel action.” However, Cole’s decision cannot be reversed unless Feight violates his probation, leaving many in the community anxious about the potential for further incidents.
The attack occurred on April 10, 2023, around 4 a.m., when Feight allegedly clotheslined the female jogger, who remains unnamed due to the nature of the crime. According to police reports, he attempted to mount her before fleeing when she began screaming for help. Authorities located him four hours later in Winter Park.
Despite a history of mental illness that previously led to incompetence findings in court, Feight was deemed competent to stand trial just weeks before the plea deal was finalized on October 20. This alarming timeline has left many to question the legal process and the safety of the community.
Adding to the public’s concerns, Feight has a record of violent behavior, including a 2022 incident at Orlando International Airport where he brandished a knife and recent allegations of unwanted physical contact with a woman at a local Hobby Lobby. He has faced domestic battery charges multiple times, raising serious questions about his ongoing risk to the public.
Local residents have been urged to report any violations of Feight’s probation to the probation office at 407-245-0701. The community remains on high alert, with many fearing for their safety following Feight’s controversial release and the troubling implications of the plea deal.
As the State Attorney’s Office reviews this case, the potential for significant personnel changes looms, and residents are left grappling with the consequences of this decision. Stay tuned for updates as this developing story unfolds.
