Conviction brings life sentence

A Gainesville man will spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted last week of two counts of sexual battery on a child under 12, the State Attorney's Office reported.

Joe Barnes III, 42, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the case Monday, said State Attorney's Office spokesman Spencer Mann.

An Alachua County jury found Barnes guilty last week, according to Assistant State Attorney Lua Mellman.

Barnes had been accused of molesting a female relative, Mann said. The incidents occurred in 2004 and 2005 when the child was 7 and 8 years old.

The child ultimately reported the molestation to a relative after attending an Alachua County school presentation given by police where an officer explained about “good touches and bad touches,” Mann said.