State Attorney Bill Eddins announced that on August 1, 2019, Santa Rosa County Circuit Court Judge Darlene Dickey sentenced Michael Paul Newman, age 43, of Black Rock, Arkansas, to Life in prison. Newman was also designated as a Sexual Predator.
On May 8, 2019, a Santa Rosa County Jury found Newman, guilty of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation on a Victim Less Than 12 Years of Age. In October 2015, Newman traveled with the eight year old victim from Black Rock Arkansas to Santa Rosa County, Florida. Newman molested the child while they were staying in a motel in Milton.
The investigation was conducted by Detective Robert Assmann of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Stephanie G. Pace. Please contact Ms. Pace at 850-983-4453 with any questions.