A 16-time convicted felon is heading back to prison for 15 years after terrifying a couple in The Villages during a middle-of-the-night home invasion.
Barry Earl Wilbanks, 38, of Wildwood, was sentenced to 15 years behind bars by Judge Brian J. Welke after a jury found him guilty Tuesday of burglary of a dwelling. Following the verdict, the court designated Wilbanks as a prison releasee reoffender, ensuring the stiff sentence.
Assistant State Attorneys Rachel Jones and Devon Razey successfully prosecuted the case, which stemmed from a terrifying break-in on Aug. 12, 2024. The home invasion occurred just three days after Wilbanks had been released from the Florida Department of Corrections.
At about 4 a.m. that morning, a husband and wife living on Privett Drive in the Village of Pine Ridge were awakened by the sound of their garage door opening. The husband got out of bed to investigate and walked into the laundry room, where he discovered Wilbanks rummaging through his wife’s purse…