Murder trial in 2016 drug deal gone wrong gets underway

The man who detectives say admitted to shooting Charles Lehnert dead in January 2016 during a drug deal gone bad will stand trial beginning Monday.

On the night of Jan. 23, 2016, Lehnert, 31, was found shot to death in the parking lot of lawn equipment provider Gravely of Bradenton, 5732 15th St. E., according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Daniel Lee Mann II is facing charges of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted of first-degree murder, Mann would receive an automatic life sentence since the state has opted not to seek the death penalty.

Jury selection will begin at 9 a.m. Monday.

Mann was first charged with second-degree murder in January 2016 but was indicted for first-degree murder earlier this month after he declined to take a plea offer.

Detectives say that Mann admitted to the police officers who apprehended him in Tallahassee that he shot Lehnert while James Michael Hardy held the victim down.

Mann and Hardy, both 23, were identified by a tipster to detectives after seeing images from video surveillance that were released to the public. The informant also reportedly told detectives that Hardy had admitted to being involved. A photo of Mann wearing the same hat that investigators found at the scene on his Facebook page also helped detectives link Mann to the crime, the sheriff’s office has said.

Hardy, charged with principal to second-degree murder, is scheduled to stand trial during the two-week trial period that begins Oct. 2.

This story was originally published July 30, 2017 at 11:06 AM with the headline "Murder trial in 2016 drug deal gone wrong gets underway."