Public Affairs Director Klare Ly, informed Historic City News today that a St Johns County man, convicted of forcing himself on an eleven-year-old girl between September 2011 and February 2012, and then threatening to kill her and her mother if the girl ever told anyone, will die in prison for his crimes.
After a two day bench trial that began on Monday, Circuit Judge J. Michael Traynor found 41-year-old Robert Lee Skipper guilty, as charged, of two counts of sexual battery against a person less than 12-years-old, a capital felony; and one count of sexual battery against a person 12-years-old, but less than 16-years-old, a second degree felony; sentencing him to serve two life-terms plus fifteen-years in state prison.
“The child victim showed remarkable courage when she came forward to report and testify regarding the sexual abuse,” R.J. Larizza, State Attorney of the 7th Judicial Circuit, told Historic City News local reporters. “The judge’s sentence will insure that the defendant dies in prison; I hope this child and her family find comfort and peace in that.”
The pre-teen victim confided in her stepmother graphic details of sexual battery committed against her over a six or seven month period while Skipper and the girl’s stepmother were dating. The stepmother immediately reported the crimes to St Augustine Police who obtained a search warrant for Skipper’s residence. When Detective Corporal Charles Simpson executed the warrant at 121 Woodcrest Road in St Augustine, he recovered several clothing items and bed sheets; which, after forensic examination, corroborated the girl’s testimony.
Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Dunton prosecuted Skipper, who was 39-years-old at the time of his arrest.