- November 15, 2024
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A Palm Coast man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the lewd and lascivious battery of an underage relative.
The man, Brandon James Moon, had pleaded no contest Nov. 3, entering an open plea — meaning there was no agreement with the State Attorney's Office for his sentence.
In a hearing Dec. 7, Circuit Judge David Walsh sentenced Moon to 15 years, with credit for 252 days already served, 7th Judicial Circuit representative Ludmilla Lelis said. According to Moon's plea form, 15 years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000 is the statutory maximum sentence for the lewd and lascivious battery (statutory rape) charge.
Two other charges initially filed against Moon — one count of lewd and lascivious molestation, and one count of cruelty toward a child/impregnating a child under 16 by a person 21 or over — were not pursued.
The victim was 13 or 14 when Moon raped her. A doctor's office visit showed that she was pregnant, revealing the rape, and DNA testing confirmed that Moon was the one who had impregnated her. Moon was already in jail on a burglary charge when the State Attorney's Office filed charges in the rape case.
