Travis Brian Barlow was convicted of manslaughter for punch that led to the brain hemorrhage that killed Adam Frank Hoffman in Lakeland.

BARTOW — A 37-year-old Lakeland man faces up to 15 years in prison when he's sentenced April 30 after a jury found him guilty of fatally punching an acquaintance in the face.

Travis Brian Barlow, of 11431 Old Dade City Road, who had been free on $10,000 bail, was remanded into the custody of the Polk County Jail after the jury found him guilty of manslaughter Thursday. Jurors deliberated about three hours before reaching their unanimous verdict.

Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies had arrested Barlow on July 1, 2018, the day after Adam Frank Hoffman, 38, also of Lakeland, was hit in the face, causing a fatal brain injury.

In a statement to PCSO deputies, Barlow said he wasn't home when Hoffman came to the house he shared with his girlfriend, and when she told him to leave, he went next door, where Barlow's friend lived.

Barlow told deputies he had become angry because Hoffman's actions were disrespectful to his girlfriend.

According to court records, Hoffman had left the area after Russell Bunch, Barlow's next door neighbor, told him to leave.

Later that evening, Bunch and Barlow drove to Hoffman's mobile home at 3015 Ralph Road in Lakeland, and when Hoffman's sister-in-law said she wanted no trouble at her house, they left, according to sheriff's office reports.

In his statement to deputies, Barlow said he was driving away when he thought he heard a woman say, “I thought you were going to do something. No one's calling the cops.”

He said he returned to Hoffman's home, and he and Hoffman were walking toward each other. As they came together, Barlow said, he punched Hoffman a single time in the face. He saw Hoffman fall to his knees, then on his stomach, and Barlow left.

Witnesses said Hoffman was walking back toward the house when Barlow returned, and Barlow grabbed Hoffman's arm, turned him around and hit him twice, according to deputies. The blows triggered a hemorrhage in Hoffman's brain that led to his death.

Bunch, who was with Barlow, told deputies Hoffman wasn't harmed, nor did he make any aggressive movements toward Barlow.

Following his arrest, Barlow was held in the Polk County Jail for two days before being released after posting bail, according to jail records.

Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533-9070. Follow her on Twitter @southpolkscene.