A judge Wednesday ordered a man to spend the rest of his life in prison after his April convictions of sexually abusing a child for years, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark gave Sean Michael Talkington, 45, two separate Life sentences – one for each count of Sexual Battery on a Child under the age of 12 – 25 years for Lewd and Lascivious Molestation, and 15 years for Lewd and Lascivious Battery. He ordered the terms served consecutively.
The sentencing ended a case that involved prosecutors and law enforcement in both Bay County, where the crime occurred, and Kansas, where the defendant was questioned.
“I’m happy we were able to close this chapter and help her on her healing journey,” Prosecutor Nicole Reed said. “The collaboration between our office, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Lawrence, Kansas, Police Department shows that justice isn’t bound by jurisdictional lines.”
Reed, who read the victim’s impact statement to the court during sentencing, said the effort put into the case by everyone involved paid off, “knowing that a Sexual Predator has been put away for the rest of his life and the victim can breathe easier.”
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In her Victim Impact Statement, the victim wrote about her pain and suffering, saying, “The journey to healing has only begun and I have a lifetime of healing and self-discovery to fight for, and I’ll never stop fighting for this life and for peace.”
During the April trial, Reed called four witnesses and presented evidence that proved the defendant repeatedly sexually assaulted the victim between 2005 and 2012. Among the state witnesses were Bay County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jake Roberts and Lawrence, Kansas, Police Department Sgt. Jamie Lawson, who traveled to Bay County to testify. Roberts was the case agent. Sgt. Lawson conducted an interview with the defendant in Kansas during which the defendant made admissions.
The jury deliberated for just over 30 minutes.
Basford thanked the BCSO and Lawrence, Kansas police for their collaborative work on a case that spanned years and nearly 1,000 miles.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.