A Hernando County grand jury has indicted Nathan Douglas Holmberg, 36, on twenty-five counts, including seven counts of capital sexual battery on a child under twelve, following an intensive investigation by a multi-jurisdictional task force.
The State of Florida has announced its intention to seek the death penalty in the case against Holmberg.
The indictment, announced by Attorney General James Uthmeier, follows an investigation led by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution.
The initial arrest of Holmberg occurred on October 20, 2025, on charges including three counts of capital sexual battery on a child under twelve and one count of promoting sexual performance by a child. The current indictment significantly escalates the charges.
Attorney General Uthmeier emphasized the gravity of the situation and the commitment to pursuing the maximum penalty. “If you harm a child, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will seek the maximum penalty under the law,” Uthmeier stated. “The nature of these crimes demanded a statewide special task force, and the investigation is far from over.”
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The decision to pursue capital punishment reflects the state’s aggressive stance on crimes against children. This move comes after Governor DeSantis signed legislation in 2023 aimed at circumventing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2008 decision in Kennedy v. Louisiana, which ruled the death penalty unconstitutional for the rape of a child when death was not the result.
State Attorney Bill Gladson of the Fifth Judicial Circuit underscored the demand for severe accountability. “When an individual commits a truly heinous crime, as in this case, the full weight of the law must be brought to bear,” Gladson said. “There is no place for mercy when the acts committed against a child are so unspeakable. Accountability will be had, any chance of recidivism will be nonexistent, and justice will be served.”
Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis echoed these sentiments, noting the betrayal of trust inherent in the crimes. “It is especially heinous to victimize totally innocent and very young children, children who often put their complete trust in adults,” said Sheriff Nienhuis. “Anyone who perverts that trust for sexual gratification can expect the full weight Florida’s criminal justice system, and if found guilty, can expect the absolute harshest penalties.”
This investigation marks a new level of joint authority for the state. It is the first to operate with a special task force that includes members of the State Attorney’s Office for the Fifth Judicial Circuit and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, all operating under the statewide authority granted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.
This structure allows investigators to seamlessly pursue leads and evidence across multiple judicial circuits and jurisdictions.
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