MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – The State Attorney’s Office of the Fifth Judicial Circuit says a jury convicted a 28-year-old man of sex crimes against a child.
The State Attorney’s Office says a jury found Johnathon Michael Apenzeller guilty of three felony counts of lewd and lascivious battery and one count of possession of child pornography.
The Investigation
Authorities say on February 7, 2020, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies responded to a home in Silver Springs after receiving a report of a disturbance. When deputies arrived at the scene, they say they were informed that Apenzeller had engaged in sexual activities with a child between the ages of 12 to 16 years old.
Deputies said their investigation and interviews with the child victim and the individual who reported the incident revealed that he had engaged in sexual activities with the child multiple times and had also recorded them on his cellphone, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
Investigators tried to contact Apenzeller for an interview, but they say he had left the area. A warrant was then issued for Apenzeller and he was arrested in Ohio and then transferred to the Marion County Jail.
His sentencing will take place on Jan. 18, 2024.
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According to Florida sentencing guidelines, lewd and lascivious battery and possession of child pornography are both considered second-degree felonies. Both are punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
“Cases such as this highlight the importance of safeguarding the well-being of our children,” said William “Bill” Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “Our legal system stands firm against the exploitation of children, and we will continue to vigorously prosecute anyone who harms a child.”