SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. – Sumter County man, 66-year-old Fredrick Leroy Connell, was sentenced to Life in the Florida Department of Corrections on Wednesday without the possibility of parole.
On July 11, 2024, Sumter County jurors found Connell guilty of Sexual Battery upon a Person under Twelve Years of Age. Connell’s charge stems from his 2021 arrest, in which investigators revealed he sexually abused a child from 2013-2015.
“Acts like this will not go unpunished in our circuit,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “I commend this brave child for speaking up and telling a trusted adult what occurred. They have undoubtedly saved future victims from this predator.”
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According to investigators, on September 30, 2021, it was reported to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) that Connell had sexually battered a child victim. School officials reported that a student disclosed sexual abuse after a presentation held in the health class by E3 Family Solutions. Deputies interviewed the victim for further investigation, and the case was assigned to Inspector Pam Warren.
During the forensic interview at the Lake Sumter Children’s Advocacy Center, the victim recounted to authorities numerous instances of Connell sexually battering them, disclosing key details. Inspector Warren interviewed the defendant, where he stated various information that coincided with the recount told by the victim. However, he denied all accusations of sexual battery occurring.
Inspector Warren interviewed multiple parties to the case and developed probable cause for Connell’s arrest. Connell was arrested on December 29, 2021, and transported to the Sumter County Detention Center.
Assistant State Attorneys Dan Geraghty and Sonny McCathran successfully prosecuted this case. A sincere thank you to Inspector Pam Warren and the Staff at the Lake-Sumter Children’s Advocacy Center for their work in this case, despite the challenges presented by the time lapse between the crime and when it was reported.
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