Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Craig David Ames, who has been in jail since July 2024 for sexual assault and a series of related offenses, is now facing the death penalty for his crimes.
According to a court docket from the Suwannee County Clerk of Courts, Ames, a 59-year-old resident of Live Oak, was originally scheduled to appear before Judge Katie Land in Division A court. However, he has been moved to Division B, where he will now appear before Judge Mark Feagle, who is authorized to handle death penalty cases.
An employee of the clerk's office who chose to remain anonymous shared that the State Attorney's Office has decided to pursue the death penalty in this case and filed a motion to that effect on Friday, Jan. 31. The State Attorney's Office did not provide any comments at press time.
Ames has been incarcerated at the Suwannee County Jail since July 26, 2024. He has been charged with nine counts of sexual battery on a child under 12 years of age, three counts of lewd or lascivious molestation and 14 counts of possession of child pornography.
Florida is one of a few states that allows the death penalty for cases of child sexual abuse. Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill legalizing this on May 1, 2023. During the signing, DeSantis emphasized that the bill was "for the protection of children."
"Unfortunately, in our society, we have very heinous sex crimes committed against children under the age of 12," DeSantis said. "These are really the worst of the worst. The perpetrators of these crimes are often serial offenders."
For the death sentence to be recommended, the offender must receive a unanimous guilty verdict from the jury. The first case in Florida to pursue the death penalty against a violent sexual predator was that of Joseph Andrew Giampa, who ultimately pled guilty after sexually assaulting a child in Lake County. He is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole after reaching a deal with the prosecutor's office.
Riverbend News will continue to provide updates regarding Ames's case.