Dewayne Scott Found Guilty of Sex Crimes Against Minor

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Dewayne Scott guilty of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, and Lewd or Lascivious Conduct. With the verdict, Scott faces up to life in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Jonathan Sacks will sentence Scott at a later date.

On Oct. 24, 2023, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation into Scott after allegations from a 13-year-old victim, who was under 12 years old at the time of the crimes. As the investigation continued, other victims of Scott from past years came forward to share details of his inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature that included touching and kissing when they were minors. Although the statute of limitations had expired for the older incidents, those similar victim accounts were admissible to show Scott’s repeated pattern of behavior that corroborated the current victim’s experience. 

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Caitlin Messinger and Shaina Ruth.