Jacksonville Man Faces Life in Prison for Sexual Battery on a Minor

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Rudy Skipper, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of Capital Sexual Battery (Victim Under 12 Years Old), one count of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, and one count of Showing Obscene Materials to Minors. Skipper now faces a mandatory life sentence in Florida State Prison. Sentencing is scheduled to be set by the Honorable Linda McCallum the week of Nov. 12, 2019.

From 2014-17, Skipper sexually abused a closely acquainted minor child multiple times. Another minor child victim who was close to Skipper came forward to describe acts of sexual abuse — “bad things” as the child described — against her. These acts included showing the victim pornography on a cellphone. During the trial, three additional minor children also testified to acts of sexual abuse Skipper had committed against them.

The case was investigated by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and UF First Coast Child Protection Team and is being prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jessica Hensley and Cate Waugh.