GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jermaine Lamorris Godbolt, 42, has been sentenced to two life terms in prison after he was found guilty of two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child younger than 12 while in a custodial role. Senior Judge William Slaughter imposed the sentences following a non-jury trial. Both charges are capital felonies.
Godbolt was arrested in May 2022 and has remained in the Alachua County Jail since then. A sworn complaint was filed in January 2021 after the victims’ grandmother saw a text message sent to one victim stating that she had been raped. When the grandmother questioned the child, she learned that the two sisters had allegedly been raped “every day” for several years, beginning when they were between 5 and 8 years old and while Godbolt was dating their mother. During a forensic interview, one victim said Godbolt threatened to “kill everybody” if she disclosed the abuse.
The case stretched on for years as Godbolt repeatedly dismissed his attorneys and filed pro se motions rather than working through counsel. His trial was ultimately held Sept. 1 and Sept. 17, with Judge Slaughter issuing the sentence on Sept. 17.