FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Chapman
Phone: (904) 255-3004
Cell: (904) 524-6626
ChapmanD@coj.net
July 28, 2023
CLAY COUNTY JURY FINDS SCOTT GUILTY OF SEXUAL BATTERY
State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Clay County jury found Jesmeil Scott guilty of Sexual Battery. With the verdict, Scott now faces up to 15 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Steven Whittington will sentence Scott at a future hearing.
On March 16, 2021, the victim went to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office to report the crime against her that had taken place a couple of hours earlier. Scott knew the victim through another person and was staying at her home at the time of the crime. At about 8:30 a.m. that morning, the victim prepared to go to the gym when Scott came up behind her, put his armed around her neck in a chokehold-like maneuver that prevented her from breathing, and would not let go. The victim fought back but Scott forced her to the ground before forcing her into a nearby bedroom where he committed the sexual battery. After Scott committed the sexual battery, he told her he had recorded the incident and would release it on social media if she said anything — the victim recalled seeing Scott’s phone propped up on a TV in the room. Immediately after the crime, the victim contacted a friend and went to their home to relay what happened. The witness then drove the victim to a police substation to report the crime. The investigation confirmed the victim’s account of what happened, and Scott was arrested.
The case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Phil Bavington.