Office of the State Attorney

P R E S S   R E L E A S E

August 22, 2019

 

State of Florida v. Torren Jermaine Dennis

                                                           

DOB: 01/25/1992

Case Number: CF18-00778

 

Dennis convicted of lewd and lascivious battery of a minor, transmission of material harmful to minors

 

ST. AUGUSTINE – This afternoon, a St. Augustine man was convicted of one count of lewd and lascivious battery of a minor, a second degree felony, as well as a felony count of transmission of material harmful to minors by electronic device. The St. Johns County jury deliberated for 45 minutes before returning a guilty verdict.

From October 2017 to March 2018, Dennis repeatedly had sexual intercourse with the child victim. The legal guardian notified the Sheriff’s Office in May 2018. Using the victim’s online identity, an officer with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office communicated via chat with Dennis. In response, Dennis sent several sexually explicit text messages, including a picture of him holding his genitals. He was later apprehended by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant State Attorney Kaitlyn Payne prosecuted the case and Circuit Judge Howard M. Maltz presided over the trial. Judge Maltz will sentence Dennis on October 31, 2019.

 

For further information contact:

Bryan L. Shorstein

Public Information Officer / Executive Director

Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza

State Attorney, Seventh Judicial Circuit

SAOPIO@SAO7.org

386-239-7710

386-562-4043 - Cell