MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – A man was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for sexually battering a child repeatedly.
The State Attorney’s Office says 47-year-old Christoper Lee Holding was found guilty on all seven charges including sexual battery on a victim older than 12 but less than 18 years of age.
They say in June of 2023, the 47-year-old was arrested by Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies after reports of “sexual misconduct” between Holding and the minor. They say during the interview, the victim recalled multiple accounts of sexual abuse by Holding between 2017 to 2021.
The State Attorney’s Office shared in a Facebook post that the victim also told investigators that the abuse started at 13 years old, and there were multiple times where Holding would “tie or chain up” the victim while sexually battering them. They say more evidence supported the victim’s statements.
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After the jurors delivered their verdict to the court, a judge sentenced Holding to life in the Florida Department of Corrections, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
“I cannot even begin to fathom the pain and suffering this victim endured from Holding,” said William “Bill” Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “The weight of the trauma they will have to carry the rest of their life is despairing and incomparable. I am extremely pleased with this sentencing after considering all the evidence and the surrounding circumstances.