Young Found Guilty of Sexual Batteries, Strangulation

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that the Honorable Lindsay Tygart found Jason Young guilty of three counts of Sexual Battery with Use of Force, False Imprisonment, and Battery by Strangulation after a bench trial. With the verdict, Young faces a mandatory life sentence in Florida State Prison. Judge Tygart will formally sentence Young at a later date.

On March 11, 2024, the victim reported an armed sexual battery at a North Jacksonville apartment complex. The victim was homeless at the time and staying in a vacant apartment with Young, who came up behind her and used a cord-like object to strangle her until she lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, Young beat and raped her repeatedly while threatening her with a boxcutter. The victim was taken to a hospital and completed a sexual assault forensic exam. On March 21, 2024, another victim reported a sexual assault off Dunn Avenue, and Young was arrested. The weapon used in this assault matched the boxcutter described by the first victim. Buccal swabs were collected from Young following a DNA search warrant. Young’s DNA was a match for the DNA collected during the initial victim’s sexual assault forensic exam.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jessica Russell and LaTesha Campbell.