BONIFAY – A 41-year-old pastor was sentenced to Life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for sexually battering a teenaged boy earlier this year, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Randon Lee Carroll, of Ponce de Leon, was set to go on trial in October on multiple charges when he pled no contest to Sexual Battery of a Victim Over 12 but Under 18 and under his custodial authority. He also pled to Sexual Performance by a Child for videotaping some of the sexual acts. The defendant entered an “open” plea, meaning Circuit Court Judge Russell Roberts would decide the penalty.
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At Tuesday’s sentencing, Chief Holmes County Prosecutor Jacob Cook outlined the basics of the State’s case and cross-examined defense witnesses while asking for the maximum sentence. He said the defendant continued to shift the blame – he testified he “fell for it” and was “lured, which was contrary to the evidence.
“I think this is the worst possible act that can be committed against a child your Honor and the State requests that he die in prison,” Cook said. “This is as bad as it gets.”
Judge Roberts, saying he had considered all the evidence in the case, then ordered that Carroll be sentenced to Life on the Sexual Battery charge and 15 years for the second charge.
Holmes County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Bill Pate was the first witness called by Cook and he outlined what the victim said happened on May 16, 2026, in the defendant’s home. Pate testified he observed a forensic interview with the victim at the Children’s Advocacy Center. On May 19 Pate went to the defendant’s home and interviewed him there.
The defendant admitted to committing the sexual acts, saying, “I have a problem. I shouldn’t have done it.” The details the defendant gave during his interview matched the details given by the victim.
The victim’s mother, in a victim impact statement, wrote about the family’s strong religious beliefs and the fact that a pastor could give sermons knowing he was sexually battering a child.
“It takes a wicked person to do that,” she wrote. “There’s no way this is of God. This is pure evil.”
“I hope today’s sentence gives justice to the victim and his family,” Cook said. “Captain Bill Pate of the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office did a terrific job investigating this case. Due to his stellar work, we have permanently removed a monster from our community.”
Basford thanked the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office for its investigation of the case and the confession obtained from the defendant that helped lead to a quick resolution.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.