Sarasota Man Sentenced To Prison For Sexual Battery Of A Child

SARASOTA, FL — A Sarasota man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of sexual battery involving a child older than 12 years of age and related offenses. The sentence was announced by State Attorney Ed Brodsky on Friday.

Thirty-six-year-old Jose Velasquez was also ordered by Judge Charles Roberts to undergo a supervised probation upon his release in which he must wear a GPS ankle bracelet so his location can be monitored.

He was convicted of committing sexual battery and molestation of the child while the child's mother was at work in November of 2018.

"The child immediately reported what happened to a family member, who then notified law enforcement," prosecutors said. "The child was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital where sexual assault examination was completed. When the evidence collected was analyzed by the crime lab at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Velasquez's DNA matched the DNA found on the child."

Assistant State Attorney Ryan Felix prosecuted the case.

"I am so proud of the victim for her courage in immediately supporting what happened to her," Felix said.