PALATKA, Fla. — In a significant legal verdict, a man from Putnam County has been sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction on charges of capital sexual battery, as reported by the State Attorney’s Office.

According to The Florida Times-Union, Lawrence Lacourse, aged 69, was apprehended on May 13, 2020. His arrest came after a 14-year-old victim came forward, revealing to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office that she had been subjected to sexual abuse by Lacourse. The young victim disclosed that the abuse began when she was just 10 years old and continued over a span of four years.

In a swift judicial process, a Putnam County jury took only 26 minutes to deliberate after a two-day trial, ultimately finding Lacourse guilty of the charges against him.

• One count of sexual battery on a child less than 12.
• One count of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child less than 12.
• Three counts of sexual battery on a child older than 12 but less than 18.
• Two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child older than 12 but less than 16.

As a result of his conviction on capital sexual battery, Lacourse has been declared a sexual predator and has been given a mandatory life sentence.

“The defendant is a predator who repeatedly violated young family members,” said State Attorney R.J. Larizza. “His actions were abhorrent, and we hope his victims can find some solace in the justice served today.”

Lawrence was previously arrested for lewd and lascivious behavior on a child and sexual battery in Collier County in 1995.