Florida Man Sentenced to Life for Kidnapping and Sexual Assault of Lawrenceville Couple; Met Through Gay Dating App

A Florida man accused of kidnapping a Lawrenceville couple and robbing them after sexually assaulting one of the victims pled guilty this week to a life sentence.

23-year-old Stevenson Charles pled guilty to false imprisonment, aggravated sodomy, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of armed robbery, and two counts of aggravated assault. He was ordered to serve a life prison sentence with the possibility of parole.

“This defendant’s behavior is absolutely outrageous,” Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “We are pleased with this life sentence, and we hope this resolution gives justice to the individuals he targeted.”

In November 2022, Charles connected with the initial victim through the gay dating app Scruff. On November 10, 2022, Charles and the initial victim met in person and Charles forced a sexual act at gunpoint before robbing the victim. The victim then took Charles to his home under force, where Charles kidnapped the victim and his husband. Charles took both men’s wedding rings and forced them to drive around to different retail locations to purchase gift cards that he took.

Charles was convicted in 2023 in a federal court in Florida for carjacking, kidnapping, and robbing five victims in Miami – some whom he connected with using the dating app Grindr. He also faces murder and armed robbery charges in DeKalb County. All the previously mentioned offenses he has been convicted for or charged with took place in November 2022.

DA Austin-Gatson warned, “be careful not to allow yourself to become a victim by hooking up with strangers on dating apps.”

Gwinnett County Assistant District Attorney Scott Estes with the DA’s Special Victims Unit negotiated the plea agreement.