A Sarasota jury convicted Larry Wayne Riddle of attempted sexual battery on a child under 12, solicitation of a child under 16, and lascivious exhibition on a child under 16 after a three-day trial that ended October 14. Judge Andrea DeCanio sentenced him the following day to 65.65 years in prison, the maximum allowed under Florida law, and designated him a sexual predator.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, Riddle was a close family friend staying with the victim’s family at their Sarasota vacation home during Spring Break. Prosecutors say he repeatedly asked the child to perform sexual acts and exposed himself when she refused. The child disclosed the abuse to her grandmother and mother, prompting an investigation by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit with assistance from multiple agencies across counties. Riddle had three prior child sex offense convictions from Broward County dating to the 1980s and 1990s, and one of his prior victims testified at sentencing.
Assistant State Attorney Lissa MacDonald credited the child’s courage, her family’s support, and the work of law enforcement for the outcome. For families across the Suncoast heading into another busy spring rental season, the case is a reminder that a child’s disclosure, and an adult who acts on it, can be what finally holds a repeat offender accountable.
What’s the best way to teach kids that it’s always okay to tell a trusted adult? Share your thoughts in the comments.
