Daytona Beach man sentenced to 45 years for slashing 13-year-old boy’s neck with box cutter

A man who slashed a 13-year-old boy's neck with a box cutter near the Daytona Beach Boardwalk in February has been sentenced to 45 years in prison.Jermaine Long entered no contest pleas Thursday to attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery and six additional charges stemming from three other cases.The victim, Sullivan Clarke, and his mother spoke after the hearing about the attack.What happenedThe attack happened on Feb. 14, 2026, during Daytona 500 weekend.According to the State Attorney's Office, surveillance footage showed Long circling behind Clarke before slashing the boy's neck with a box cutter and running away.Clarke was taken to a hospital, where he received 13 stitches.His mother, Lori Clarke, said she witnessed the attack and noticed Long watching her son moments before it happened.Daytona Beach police located Long nearby shortly after the attack and arrested him. Prosecutors said officers found two-edged weapons, a box cutter and a knife, in his possession.45-year