OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The State Attorney’s Office says a man from Marion County was found guilty of sexually battering a child multiple times in 2020.

They say after jurors deliberated for about 45 minutes, they found 34-year-old Frederick Lamar Hamilton guilty on eight felony charges. According to Marion County jail records, those charges include several counts of lewd and lascivious battery of a child between 12 and 16 years of age.

Authorities say in October of 2020, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies arrested Hamilton after they say an investigation revealed “sexual misconduct” between Hamilton and the victim.

The State Attorney’s Office says a month before, the child’s mother contacted authorities after finding out about the sexual abuse of her son. They say in an interview, the victim recounted being sexually abused by Hamiliton multiple times from when he was 12 years old until the age of 17.

Authorities say the victim also told them that the abuse happened at a variety of locations multiple times including a church in Ocala that Hamilton presided over. The sheriff’s office said that on the most recent occasion, the victim told detectives that Hamilton “provided him with alcohol and then proceeded to sexually batter him.” Further investigation including an additional witness testimony supported the victim’s statements to be true, stated the State Attorney’s Office.

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When MCSO detectives contacted Hamilton about the alleged abuse, they say he admitted during an interview that he had sexual contact with the victim on multiple occasions.

MCSO says Hamilton was a paraprofessional with the Marion County School District, but the sheriff’s office confirmed that the victim was not a student of his.

“Children teach us many things – resiliency being one,” said William “Bill” Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “The victim in the case not only coped with the traumatic challenges of this insidious adult taking advantage of them, but the victim persevered to make sure Hamilton was held responsible for his repulsive crimes.

The State Attorney’s Office says Hamilton’s sentencing will take place at a later time.