William Eddins, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit, announced Thursday, a Santa Rosa County Jury found Paul Frank Small, Jr., 70 years of age, guilty of two counts of Sexual Battery Upon a Child Less Than 12 Years of Age, one count of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, and one count of Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition in the Presence of a Child on September 10, 2014. Immediately following the trial, Santa Rosa County Circuit Court Judge John L. Miller sentenced the defendant to three consecutive life sentences with an additional 15 year sentence to run consecutive to the life sentences.
Between October 16, 2011 and January 6, 2014, Paul Frank Small, Jr. sexually battered and molested the victim on numerous occasions at his home in Navarre. The abuse began when the victim was 4 years old and continued until she was 6 years old. Law enforcement became aware of the abuse when a report was made to the Department of Children and Families Child Abuse Hotline.
The investigation was conducted by Detective Gary Baney of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Stephanie G. Pace. If you have any additional questions, you may contact Ms. Pace at 983-4453.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Small found guilty, gets three life sentences