BUNNELL, Fla. - 59-year-old Monseratte Teron, the man accused of molesting his young niece, has been handed two life sentences plus 30 years for his crimes by Judge Terence Perkins. Teron was previously convicted on two counts of sexual battery on a person under 12 years old, and lewd/lascivious molestation on a person under 12 years old.
The life sentences for Teron's two sexual battery charges were mandatory, leaving Judge Perkins little room for leniency even if he'd want to grant it. The accusations against Teron were severe: that he'd raped his niece on multiple occasions for years until she reported it at age 9. The ensuing arrest of Teron and his prosecution sharply divided his family, who were present both in his support and opposition at the sentencing.
Upon the signing of Teron's arrest warrant, he was a fugitive from justice for six days. On May 10th, 2021, he was arrested at the Palm Coast Wawa after the Flagler County Sheriff's Office picked up his license plate. Though over two years elapsed for Teron to be taken through the judicial system, he will now live out the rest of his days in prison.
“This defendant molested a young girl for three years,” said State Attorney R.J. Larizza after the sentencing. “It is a horrific case of child sex abuse, but Teron will spend the rest of his life in prison and not hurt this victim or another child again.”
“Our Major Case Unit spent countless hours making sure this man will never see the outside of a prison ever again,” added Sheriff Rick Staly. “Due to their hard work along with the State Attorney’s Office, the victim and their family can hopefully gain some sense of justice that this pervert will never be able to hurt another child or take their innocence away.”
