Jacksonville brothers found guilty of attempted first-degree felony murder, facing nine life sentences

Two Jacksonville men were found guilty of two counts of attempted first-degree felony murder and eight other charges Friday.

Donald Jerome Dickerson, 34, and James Lamont Dickerson, 32, are both facing nine life sentences as habitual felony offenders.

In July 2013, police responded to the Motel 6 on Dix Ellis Trail for a reported fire. When police arrived at the motel, they found three victims, one of whom had suffered a gunshot wound in the head.

Donald Dickerson was at the motel with two females when his brother, James, arrived at the motel, pulled a gun and ordered the female victims to take off their clothes.

James forced one of the victims to tie up the other victim and then he sexually assaulted both women multiple times. Donald assisted his brother with the assault.

A third victim arrived and was forced inside the motel room at gunpoint. He was tied up and ordered not to move. As the Dickersons continued to sexually batter the female victims, one of them tried to fight back and was shot in the head.

The Dickersons stole $400 and some car keys, set the room on fire and fled in a vehicle.
The victim who suffered the gunshot wound survived but was blinded as a result.

Both James and Donald Dickerson were found guilty of two counts of attempted first-degree felony murder, one count of attempted manslaughter, three counts of kidnapping with a weapon, two counts of sexual battery with great force, one count of armed robbery and one count of first-degree arson.

A judge will sentence the Dickersons on Sept. 28.

WJAX