Jacksonville, Florida – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) is urging the public to come forward with any information regarding 55-year-old Hugh Perry, who is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence following his conviction for sexual battery.
A Duval County jury convicted Perry of Sexual Battery in September 2025 for the 2022 rape of a woman. The conviction carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in Florida State Prison.
Details of the Crime and Investigation
The JSO investigation began in February 2022 after a woman reported to the Women’s Center SAFE Program that she had been out in Jacksonville Beach the night before and woke up the next morning unsure of how she got home.
- Forensic Evidence: A forensic analysis of the victim’s medical exam conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed that Perry’s DNA was found in the sexual assault kit.
- Surveillance: Surveillance footage and key card information showed the victim returned home around 2:00 a.m. and Perry followed her. Perry later admitted to meeting her outside of her friend’s apartment and following her home, though he denied having sex with her.
- Prior Incident: The jury was presented with evidence of a prior 2013 incident involving two female victims who reported a sexual assault after leaving a bar and waking up with significant memory loss. Perry was identified as a suspect in that incident, and his DNA was confirmed in one of the sexual assault kits from those victims.
Further Allegations
The JSO is also investigating a separate incident in 2023 where Perry was suspected of drugging another woman’s drink and stealing her belongings. This alleged crime occurred while Perry was on release awaiting trial for the 2022 sexual assault.
The JSO Special Assault Unit is actively seeking to identify any other victims of Hugh Perry to bring them justice.
VICTIM ALERT
If you believe Hugh Perry may have assaulted you, please contact the JSO Special Assault Unit directly: (904) 630-2168
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