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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MARION MAN SENTENCED TO 11 LIFE SENTENCES FOR CAPITAL SEX BATTERY

(Marion County, FL) In the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Timothy McCourt, jurors found 44-year-old Howard Lee Whiteted III guilty on all counts:

  • 4 counts of Capital Sexual Battery upon a Person Under 12 Years of Age
  • 2 counts of Sexual Battery upon a Person 12-16 Years of Age
  • Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child, Victim less than 12 Years of Age
  • Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child, Victim Twelve or older but less than 16 Years of Age
  • 2 counts of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct/Touch
  • False Imprisonment

Following Whiteted’s conviction, Judge McCourt sentenced him to 11 consecutive life sentences. 

Whiteted was arrested in December of 2022 following a Marion County Sheriff’s Office investigation after a 14-year-old victim told a trusted adult about the sexual battery that Whiteted committed the night prior. The complainant contacted authorities to report the crime., The victim was eventually interviewed and recounted crucial details of the sexual abuse committed by Whiteted. The victim further informed officials that the defendant blocked the victim from leaving the bedroom multiple times. Major Crimes Detective Hartigan conducted an investigation into the allegations, finding probable cause to arrest the defendant.

After the initial investigation involving victim one, it was learned that a second victim, age 13, disclosed they too had been inappropriately touched by the defendant on multiple occasions, with the earliest reported occurrence being when the victim was only 10 years old. Victim two also informed detectives that despite trying to escape from Whiteted, he refused to let them leave and even made threats to continue harming the victim. The defendant was questioned about the allegations made by this second victim and was subsequently rearrested.

Officials then made contact with a third child victim who came forth after hearing of Whiteted’s arrest, who advised of numerous incidents of sexual abuse committed by the defendant.  Detectives launched a thorough investigation into this case, which revealed Whiteted had been abusing the victim since the victim was 4 years old. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Whiteted for sexual battery.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Shanae Pickens.

Published on 10/28/2025.