CITRUS COUNTY, FL. – On Thursday, in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Richard “Ric” Howard, a jury found 40-year-old James Touchton of Inverness guilty of Capital Sexual Battery on a Child Under 12 (six counts) and Domestic Battery by Strangulation (two counts).
Touchton was then sentenced to six consecutive life sentences for Capital Sexual Battery and two consecutive five-year sentences for Domestic Battery.
Touchton, who had been a Correctional Officer at Lowell Correctional Institution in Marion County, was originally arrested on March 11, 2019, by Detective Jason Cook and Detective Mike Laborda with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Special Victims Unit (SVU).
The detectives worked closely with the Child Protection Team at Jessie’s Place, the Citrus County Child Advocacy Center, to obtain the statements and evidence needed to place Touchton under arrest.
“Justice has been served today in Citrus County,” said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. “Due to the incredible work by our SVU detectives, alongside the Child Protection Team at Jessie’s Place, Touchton was quickly arrested and remained in custody all the way through today’s trial. Thanks to the court’s decision yesterday, Touchton will spend the rest of his life in prison and will never be able to abuse another child. While this can never undo the harm done to this victim, I hope they will find solace in knowing Touchton will spend the rest of his life in prison.”
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