Office of The State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Florida
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Serving the Citizens of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties
Office of The State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Florida
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Serving the Citizens of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties

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61-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO SUPPLIED DRUGS TO & SEXUALLY BATTERED MINOR SENTENCED TO FOUR CONSECUTIVE LIFE TERMS

(Marion County, FL) Yesterday, 61-year-old Terry Franklin Pennington was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences after being found guilty, back in June, of three counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery of a Child 12 Years of Age but less than 16 Years of Age and one count of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child 12 Years of Age but less than 16 Years of Age.

“Children deserve to be protected, not exploited. This multiple consecutive life sentence sends a clear message that those who victimize our children will face the most severe consequences the law allows. Justice was served with this sentence,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney.

The case against Pennington began on July 22, 2025, when the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) received a report from the Department of Children and Family Services regarding a sexual offense against a juvenile victim. MCSO Special Victims Unit Sergeant Larocque was assigned the case and began her investigation into the alleged offense.

In reviewing the initial report, Sergeant Larocque learned that the 14-year-old victim had been sexually battered by the defendant, Pennington, over the course of a month. Prior to the incidents, Pennington would supply marijuana to the minor child for consumption. Afterward, he would engage in illicit sexual activities with the child.  

A forensic interview was set up with the child victim at Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection. During the recorded Child Protection Team (CPT) interview, the victim detailed various sexual incidents committed by Pennington and provided critical corroborating information to support the evidence collected.

On August 1, 2025, investigators conducted an interview with the defendant. While questioning Pennington regarding the incident involving the victim, the defendant confirmed several of the facts the victim disclosed during their CPT interview. However, Pennington denied having sexual intercourse with the child.

DNA evidence collected from both the victim and defendant was submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for analysis. The returned laboratory report confirmed DNA collected from the victim’s person matched that of the DNA collected from Pennington.

Assistant State Attorneys Madison Kirkland and Madison Bryan successfully prosecuted this case.

Published on 07/17/2026.