John Clarence Thurber Jr., 64, faces life in prison after he was found guilty as charged of three counts of Sexual Battery on a Child Less than 12 Years of Age, one count of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, one count of Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition, and one count of Providing Obscene Material to Minors. The guilty verdict came back just after 6 p.m. last night following a four day trial in Charlotte County.
The crimes occurred when Thurber would babysit the victim at his home in Punta Gorda between August 2014 and May 2016. The abuse occurred from the time the victim was 9 years old until 11 years old. The victim was sexually battered on multiple occasions during the time period and was also forced to perform sexual acts on the defendant.
The defendant showed the victim pornography and kept articles of the victim’s clothing. He even made the victim brush her hair using a specific brush so he could save the hair from it.
The victim told a family member a little about an incident and that led the family to investigate and then call the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 26th. Assistant State Attorneys Stephanie Powers and Kyle Stublen prosecuted the case.
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Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
You guys and gals ROCK!!! Thank you for getting him off the street. May God bless each and every one of you.