Manatee County Man Sentenced to Life in Prison in Child Molestation Case
A Manatee County man has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing multiple victims, including a child, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
A jury found Sterick Jerome Nixon guilty following a two-day trial at the Manatee County Courthouse. Nixon was convicted of lewd or lascivious molestation by a person 18 years of age or older upon a child younger than 12. During a sentencing hearing held last week, a judge imposed a life sentence.
Authorities said multiple victims testified during the trial that Nixon sexually abused them over a period of several years. While officials did not release the victims’ ages, court records indicated at least one victim was a child at the time of the abuse.
The investigation began in December 2022 after the first victim reported the abuse to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said Nixon had exposed himself to the victim in a lewd or lascivious manner.
As detectives continued investigating, two additional victims came forward with allegations of prior abuse. Investigators believe the abuse occurred between 2018 and 2021.
Assistant State Attorney Scott Callin, who prosecuted the case, acknowledged the victims for participating in the investigation and testifying during the trial.
In addition to the life sentence, Nixon was designated as a sexual predator.
