A North Central Florida state attorney is moving forward with the first effort in the state to pursue the death penalty for an accused child rapist under a new law enacted earlier this year.
State Attorney Bill Gladson announced Thursday in a press release that a Leesburg man, Joseph Andrew Giampa, was indicted for six counts of rape of a child under 12 and three counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child.
“Given the severity of the crime and its impact on the community, the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office has filed a notice that it intends to seek the death penalty,” Gladson’s office said in the release.
“The decision to pursue the highest penalty reflects the gravity of the charges and the State Attorney’s Office’s dedication to holding criminals accountable for their actions,” the prosecutor’s statement continued.
Read: America First Legal Foundation Sues IBM Over Race-Based Hiring
“The State Attorney’s Office acknowledges the sensitivity of this matter and the impact it has on the community. Our commitment to ensuring justice and protecting the vulnerable remains unwavering. As legal proceedings unfold, our office asks for respect for the legal process and the privacy of those involved. We will continue to work diligently to bring this case to a just resolution.”
Gladson’s jurisdiction includes Lake, Marion, Sumter, Citrus and Hernando counties.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Lake County deputies arrested Giampa last month. It’s unclear how investigators suspected him of the alleged crimes, but during questioning, Giampa took deputies to a camper and showed them a video on a laptop computer. The video reportedly depicted a man sexually abusing a child.
WKMG in Orlando reported that the video allegedly showed Giampa forcing the child to perform a sex act on him and then Giampa having forced sex with the child.
At one point, Giampa put down the camera and stepped in front of it, which was how deputies identified him, the Times noted.
Read: Florida Death Row Inmate Michael Duane Zack’s Last Words Before Execution “I Love You All”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill in May that authorized the death penalty for child rapists.
“We think that in the worst of the worst cases, the only appropriate punishment is the ultimate punishment,” DeSantis said at the time.
“And so this bill sets up a procedure to be able to challenge that precedent to be able to say that in Florida, we think that the worst of the worst crimes deserve the worst of the worst punishment and I think that that’s the only thing that’s appropriate.”
The law took effect Oct. 1.
The case will likely face a court challenge, since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 2008 case that the death penalty could not be applied to child rapists.
When he enacted the law, DeSantis indicated he was ready to test that theory, even if it meant a trip to the Supreme Court.
On Thursday, the Republican governor said on X (formerly Twitter), “Today, @flsao5 [Gladson] announced that they will seek the death penalty in a case of sexual battery against a child under age 12. It will be the first case to challenge SCOTUS since I signed legislation to make pedophiles eligible for the death penalty. @flsao5 has my full support.”
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help. Visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps.