Florida | Life in prison for man charged with sexual battery of a child younger than 12; Prosecutors declined to seek the death penalty

Several months ago, Brandon Michael Angevine was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of sexual battery on a child younger than 12. Angevine also was charged with five counts of possession of child pornography.

Under Florida law, Angevine could have faced the death penalty for the sexual battery case, but prosecutors declined to seek that punishment. If convicted at trial, Angevine would be sentenced to life in prison.

On Aug. 21, Angevine appeared in front of Circuit Judge Timothy McCourt for trial priority. At the hearing, Angevine said he wanted to change his plea to guilty for the sexual battery charge and no contest for the child porn charges.

Handcuffed and wearing a jail uniform, Angevine, 32, was asked by the judge if he understood what he was doing and he said yes. Told he would be spending the rest of his life behind bars, Angevine said he understood.

Before sentencing, the judge asked Angevine if he had anything to say. He told the court he has had time to think about the case. He also said he wanted to spare the victim and their family from a trial.

For the child porn charges, the judge sentenced him to five years in prison with credit for 218 days already spent at the county jail. For the sexual battery case he was sentenced to life in prison. The sentences will be served concurrently.

Neither the victim nor their family was present in court. Prosecutors said they were aware of the hearing and Angevine's willingness to enter pleas.

Although the defendant has a right to appeal his sentence within 30 days of the hearing, Angevine told the judge he doesn't plan to appeal.

After he was fingerprinted, Angevine was taken to the back so he could be returned to the jail. It's unknown when he will be sent to prison. Locally, Angevine doesn't have a criminal record.

Angevine was represented by Assistant Public Defender Chad Hutcheson. Prosecuting the case was Assistant State Attorney Shanae Pickens.

Marion County Sheriff's Office officials were notified about cybertips indicating possible child pornography in 2024. Deputies executed a search warrant.

Detectives were able to identify the child and interview Angevine. He admitted to molesting the child and wrote an apology, according to the sheriff's office.

At the time, the child was younger than 5.

Source: ocala.com, Austin L. Miller, August 23, 2025

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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