PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – State Attorney R.J. Larizza announced plans to seek the death penalty against Dimeco Henderson, marking the first death penalty prosecution for a sexual assault case in Florida’s seventh judicial circuit.
Henderson, 34, faces multiple charges, including four counts of capital sexual battery, two counts of lewd and lascivious battery, and six counts of sex offender violations. The charges stem from allegations involving two children, including one with special needs.
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The case represents a significant application of Florida’s 2023 law that permits capital punishment for defendants convicted of sexually abusing children under 12 years old.
Investigators report Henderson, a previously convicted sex offender, knew the victims’ parents but was not related to the children. Law enforcement officials have collected DNA evidence linking Henderson to the alleged crimes, which reportedly occurred over three years.
Court records reveal Henderson’s prior conviction in Jacksonville 15 years ago for sexually abusing a minor. He has faced multiple arrests and jail time for failing to register as a sex offender.
Larizza emphasized the severity of the case in a written statement: “The sentences for those early crimes were woefully inadequate – and he struck again.” Larizza added, “As long as the defendant breathes, he will rape vulnerable and innocent children. It’s time for him to go.”
News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney supported the decision to pursue capital punishment. With nearly three decades of law enforcement experience, including oversight of child sex abuse investigations, Hackney pointed to the case details as justification for seeking the maximum penalty.
“They look at the ability to say whether or not someone is a continuing threat,” Hackney said, suggesting the evidence supports such a conclusion. “This is no slap on the wrist.”