A Callaway man found guilty as charged of sexually battering a child has been sentenced to Life without parole in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Mark N. Jackson, Jr., 29, was found guilty as charged Wednesday of Sexual Battery of a Person Less than 12 Years of Age, and Lewd or Lascivious Molestation. Circuit Court Judge Timothy Register sentenced the defendant to Life in prison on both counts. He ordered the sentences to be served consecutively, or one after the other. Judge Register also designated the defendant as a Sexual Predator.
“I’m very proud of the child victim and hope this finally brings closure to a long-endured nightmare,” said Major Crimes Prosecutor Peter Overstreet. “We will continue to prosecute child predators to the fullest extent of the law.”
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Overstreet called 6 witnesses, including the victim who was 4 years old at the time of the crime, and presented evidence proving the defendant sexually battered the girl and molested the child. The defendant was questioned by Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators after the victim disclosed what happened to a Department of Children and Families Investigator.
During the questioning, the defendant admitted the sexual contact had taken place and he was placed under arrest.
The two-day trial ended with the jury deliberating for 90 minutes before returning its verdict.
Basford thanked Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center for their work on the case.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.