When a 2024 dispute between neighbors in West Lakeland turned deadly, Clinton T. Robinson Jr. was questioned and arrested on several charges, including a first-degree murder charge.
On June 11, a Polk County jury found him guilty of the murder charge at the Bartow Courthouse in the shooting death of his neighbor, Alfredo Alfaro-Astello, 32.
The jury also found Robinson guilty of providing false information to a law enforcement officer during a capital investigation and tampering with evidence.
The prosecution decided not to pursue three additional charges filed in the case, a sentencing memo shows. Those were filed after a search of Robinson’s house. In addition to an extensive collection of firearms, the search uncovered fentanyl, drug paraphernalia and not more than 20 grams of cannabis.
The same day as the jury verdict, Circuit Court Judge Jalal A. Harb sentenced Robinson to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder, and five years and time served for the remaining convictions.
In a June 12 news release, State Attorney Brian Haas for the 10th Judicial Circuit thanked Assistant State Attorney Michael Nutter and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case.
Attempts to reach a defense attorney for Robinson were unsuccessful.
Sheriff’s charging affidavit details the crimes
Sheriff Grady Judd held a news conference following the 2024 homicide, The Ledger previously reported. The shooting took place Sept. 10, 2024, about 10 a.m. on Fleming Avenue, one block west of Wabash Avenue and south of West Highland Street in unincorporated Lakeland,
Polk County deputies responded to a report of shots fired, a charging affidavit said. Upon arrival, they found the victim in a front yard with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A witness reported Robinson approached Alfaro-Astello before they heard multiple gunshots. They observed smoke coming from the firearm Robinson was holding and heard him say, “How do you like me now?”
Alfaro-Astello had suffered four gunshot wounds, the Ledger report said.
Deputies learned that Robinson and the victim were neighbors and had a history of prior disputes, the affidavit said. Several other neighbors who were interviewed confirmed that Robinson and Alfaro-Astello had ongoing issues for years, including an argument the day before the murder.
They also indicated that the murder scene was the same place where the men had frequently argued.
After the shooting Robinson was seen fleeing the scene in his white SUV with the gun. The weapon was never recovered.
Deputies later found Robinson at his residence. When he was questioned about his relationship with his neighbor, he minimized the nature of his relationship with the victim and claimed he did not have any ongoing issues with any of his neighbors.
Robinson said he was playing a video game the time
In sworn statement to deputies, Robinson said he arrived home before the shooting and denied leaving his residence.
He said he arrived home at approximately 8 a.m., a charging affidavit said. When he got home, he discovered several broken windows. He contacted several people about the damaged window and suspected they were broken by an ex-girlfriend.
Robinson said he then went inside his residence, cleaned up some of the glass and started playing Modern Warfare 3 on his Xbox, the affidavit said. He said he was wearing headphones the whole time and did not hear any gunshots or arguments outside his home.
He told investigators he did not know Alfaro-Astello and only saw him in passing, the affidavit said. He added that he knew the victim went by the name “Cookie.”
Robinson denied ever having any confrontation with the victim and he was inside the whole morning. He said he walked outside to get some boxes out of his car when the cops told him to go back inside.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland man sentenced to life without parole for killing neighbor
Reporting by Paul Nutcher, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paul Nutcher, Lakeland Ledger | USA TODAY Network
