Duval County Jury Finds Barnhill Guilty of Molesting Young Girl

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Dustin Barnhill guilty of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of an 8-year-old girl. With the verdict, Barnhill faces up to life in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Lindsay Tygart will sentence Barnhill at a later date.

On Sept. 30, 2021, the victim and her cousin were riding on a four-wheeler ATV with Barnhill who insisted the victim sit in front of him. During the drive, Barnhill put his hand on the victim’s thigh and moved her shorts and underwear so he could touch her genitals. The victim immediately reported what happened to a guardian who called the police. The detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office found Barnhill was currently under investigation for two other sex crimes and had been investigated numerous times for similar accusations of molestation and assault in the past.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jackie Blair and Cailtin Messinger.