DeFuniak Springs man sentenced after jury finds him guilty of molesting a child
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — A DeFuniak Springs man was sentenced Thursday after he was found guilty in a child molestation case, according to the Office of State Attorney First Judicial Court of Florida.
According to a news release, Circuit Judge John Gontarek sentenced Phillip Vincent Lee, 33, to 25 years in Florida’s Department of Corrections. Lee will spend the rest of his life on sex offender probation with a GPS monitor.
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Lee was also designated a sexual predator and was required to register as a sexual predator for the rest of his life.
His sentence comes after he was found guilty of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation of a Victim under 12 years; Defendant over 18 years.
The trial took place from March 21-22, 2024, and the jury heard evidence that Lee sexually abused the then-7-year-old victim.
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The release said the victim did not initially tell anyone of the abuse because Lee told her not to tell anyone and nobody would believe her if she did.
The investigation began when Lee told his brother he had inappropriately touched a child, and his brother reported Lee to police in Robertsdale, Alabama, according to the release.
Investigators identified the victim, and she reportedly confirmed Lee had abused her.
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center saw the victim for a forensic interview, according to the release.
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The investigation involved the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Robertsdale Police Department, and the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center.
Assistant State Attorney Christine Bosau prosecuted the case on behalf of Giner Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida.
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