BUSHNELL, FL (352today.com) – A 33-year-old man was found guilty in a Sumter County Courtroom on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, on three counts of sexual battery on a person under 12 years of age and on one count of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child, with the crimes occurring more than a decade ago.
The accused, Colton Steven Colyer, 33, was taken into custody after the rendering of the verdict, where he will remain until his sentencing hearing, which will be rescheduled at a later date, according to the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
In Feb. 2024, authorities from Snohomish County in Washington State, contacted investigators in Sumter County regarding a crime that was committed within Sumter County.
Authorities from Washington were in the process of investigating another crime, when they became aware of the crimes involving the accused. Law enforcement then proceeded to provide an interview of the alleged along with screen captures and written statements to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sumter County inspector interviewed the victim who revealed that the accused had sexually battered them in Sumter County when they were 6-8 years old, and the alleged was 16-17 at the time. The victim recounted the events that unfurled in detail, providing a critical timeline that was corroborated by a witness.
The victim also provided authorities with copies of the messages confronting the defendant, approximately 10 years after the crimes were committed, where the accused apologized to the victim.
An arrest warrant was then issued for the accused where he was eventually arrested in Washington and transported to Sumter County to face charges.