OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — An Okaloosa County man has been sentenced to life in state prison following a jury conviction in a case involving a child, according to court officials.
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Justin Andrew Busby was sentenced on January 13, 2026, by Circuit Judge David Oberliesen after a jury found him guilty of charges stemming from incidents that occurred while the victim was under the age of 12. As part of the sentencing, Mr Busby was also designated a sexual predator under Florida law.
According to evidence presented during the trial, the incidents occurred between December 27, 2022, and January 3, 2023, while the child was visiting Destin with family.
The victim later disclosed the abuse to her parents after returning home to Mississippi, which led to a multi-agency investigation.
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The investigation involved the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Lucedale Police Department, and the Canopy House Child Advocacy Center in Mississippi. The case was led by Capt. Jason Smith with the Lucedale Police Department.
Prosecutors said the defendant minimized his actions during the investigation but did not deny the allegations made by the child.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Christine Bosau on behalf of Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for Florida’s First Judicial Circuit.
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