DeBary Man Sentenced for Pistol-Whipping Teens

A DeBary resident was sentenced to 15 years in prison last week for a pistol-whipping attack on two teenagers. 40-year-old Marquevis Chance will also have five years of probation following his release from prison. The incident occurred on August 3, 2025 at a park in DeBary near Lazio Circle and Kalin Street. Volusia Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene at around 7:45 p.m. Chance was said to have approached a couple, both 17 years old, and hit the boy on the head with a handgun. After this, Chance is said to have pointed the gun at the girl. He reportedly told both teenagers to take off their clothes. Chance took the clothes and left the area. The boy was hospitalized with a laceration to his head. Deputies began their search for the suspect, with the aid of K-9 units, VSO Air One, and other resources. As fate would have it, Chance turned himself in after the boy positively identified him. Detectives later determined the attack was retaliation for a dispute with one of the victims’ family members. Chance was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of armed robbery, and one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon with bodily harm. Chance was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on August 4 before posting bond on August 12. He was then booked once again on August 20 with no bond, and has remained in custody ever since. On Friday, August 28, Chance pleaded no contest to aggravated battery with a firearm and two counts of armed robbery. Circuit Judge Karen Foxman presided over the case and handed CHance his sentence. In the years preceding last year’s attack in DeBary, Chance has multiple other bookings on record in Volusia County. Charges include battery by strangulation, aggravated battery on a pregnant person, witness tampering, and driving with a suspended license among others.