JACKSONVILLE, FL — State Attorney Melissa Nelson has announced that a Duval County jury found 35-year-old Dewayne Demetrius Vicks guilty of horrific crimes against a child. Following a trial that concluded on February 19, 2026, Vicks was convicted of Sexual Battery and Showing Obscene Materials to a Minor.
Under Florida law, the nature of these convictions carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Details of the Crimes
The case against Vicks began on March 20, 2024, when a sexual battery was reported involving a minor victim. During the investigation:
- Victim Disclosure: The child provided detailed accounts of the offenses to investigators.
- Forensic Evidence: Interviewers confirmed that Vicks used pornographic videos to manipulate the victim during the batteries.
- Confession: Vicks was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on March 28, 2024, at which point he admitted to the sexual battery.
Legal Outcome
Assistant State Attorneys Caitlin Messinger and Daley Pajcic prosecuted the case, leading to the guilty verdict this week. While the life sentence is mandatory, Judge Jonathan Sacks will formally sentence Vicks at a future hearing to finalize the court records.
“With the verdict, Vicks faces mandatory life in Florida State Prison,” the State Attorney’s Office confirmed in a statement following the trial.