(Sumter County, FL) Yesterday, Judge Mary P. Hatcher sentenced 49-year-old Brian Keith Winton to seven Life sentences in the Florida Department of Corrections and designated Winton a Sexual Predator.

Winton was charged and convicted of three counts of Sexual Battery upon a Child under 12 years of age and four counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child Victim less than 12 years of age. The defendant had been in custody since a jury found him guilty on all counts following his trial in February.

“This is a just sentence for this defendant,” said Bill Gladson, State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. “And a fitting way to provide closure, to provide reassurance of safety, and to provide due justice for the two young victims in this case.”

Winton was arrested in October of 2023 following a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office investigation into possible sexual offenses involving two minor children.

Both victims disclosed to authorities during two separate interviews that the defendant had sexually battered them on numerous occasions over a period of four years, starting when the victims were as young as 10 years old. Probable cause was established for Winton’s arrest after each victim recounted specific occurrences and descriptive details to detectives.

After interviewing the two victims, detectives took Winton into custody, where he was transported to the Sheriff’s Office for an interview. After being read his Miranda rights, Winton admitted to sexually battering both victims.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Shelby Senn thanks to the diligent investigation conducted by Inspector Pam Warren of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Published on 03/25/2026.