Guilty verdict, Life sentence for man who sexually battered child

A Callaway man convicted of Sexual Battery on a Child Under the Age of 12 Friday was sentenced to Life in prison without the possibility of parole, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Marcus Stewart, 49, was found guilty as charged Friday after a one-day trial. Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark followed by sentencing him to Life in prison.

Prosecutor Frank Sullivan, left, in court last week. Upper right, defendant Marcus Stewart.

Prosecutor Frank Sullivan called five witnesses and presented evidence proving the defendant sexually battered the child on Christmas Eve, 2021. The victim also testified.

“Life in prison is the proper sentence to protect our community from this defendant,” Sullivan said. “His unspeakable acts forever changed the life of the victim. We appreciate the continued collaborative work of the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and Bay County Sheriff’s Office in helping us hold these criminals accountable.”

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The defendant was arrested Dec. 30, 2021, by Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators. Evidence showed the victim disclosed the attacks during an interview with the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center.

Basford thanked the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and Bay County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454