(Bridgeport, CT) - Bridgeport Judicial District State’s Attorney Joseph T. Corradino today announced that the Honorable Tracy Lee Dayton on October 11, 2024 sentenced Jefton Brown, age 29, of Bridgeport, to 58 years in prison followed by 10 years of special parole for the 2020 murder of 23-year-old Jonathan Dawson.
A Bridgeport Superior Court jury on August 1, 2024 found Brown guilty of one count of Murder in violation of Connecticut General Statues § 53a-54(a), and one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm in violation of Connecticut General Statues § 53a-217(a). State’s Attorney Corradino tried the case on behalf of the State.
Dawson’s body was discovered on a road in East Lyme adjacent to the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 about 10:26 p.m. on June 2, 2020. The victim and Brown were seen leaving Dawson’s Bridgeport residence at about 5 p.m. the same day. Brown was linked to Dawson’s death when police recovered video of Brown and Dawson leaving the Bridgeport residence, the locations of Brown’s and Dawson’s cellphones based on historical cell site analysis, and Dawson’s blood in the passenger seat of Brown’s rented vehicle. Dawson suffered two gunshot wounds to the head. Brown was previously convicted of a felony and disqualified from possessing firearms.
“No sentence can undo the harm inflicted in this case. A human life has been taken, and nothing can restore him to his family,” State’s Attorney Corradino said. “This sentence, however, illustrates that society will not tolerate the unilateral taking of the life of another person.”
The court imposed eight years to serve in prison on the Criminal Possession of a Firearm conviction and 50 years consecutive on the Murder count. Twenty-seven years of the 58-year sentence is mandatory time. The period of incarceration will be followed by 10 years of special parole. Brown faced a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison.