Gainesville Man Serving Less Than Year in Prison After Prosecutor Downgrades Child Molestation Charge to Aggravated Assault with Intent to Commit Felony
On January 29, 2026, Ronald Alexander Lee Jr., 42, pleaded no contest to aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony in a negotiated plea deal between his defense and prosecutors that was accepted by Judge James Colaw. Lee was sentenced to two years of imprisonment but he’s serving less than a year in state prison with over a year of credit for time served in jail. Lee’s prison term will be followed by three years of probation.
Lee was initially facing two counts of child molestation, however, Assistant State Attorney Brooke King agreed to amend the charges significantly. Lee’s initial charges carried a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, while his reduced charge carries a five-year maximum.
According to court documentation, the prosecution indicated the victim “did not disclose sexual crimes in [their] forensic interview & other evidentiary issues resulted in the plea.”
The victim’s representatives were reportedly “not in agreement” with the plea but “understood [the] reasons for it.”
According to the police report, Lee molested the under-12-year-old victim on two occasions during the same day.
Regarding the second occasion, according to the police report, “The VIC said at this time her older sister (witness 1), walked by her room and saw what was happening. Witness 1 told the VIC to come help her with something to get her out of the room and away from [Lee]. The VIC then told her father what happened who then confronted [Lee], who fled the scene. Witness 1 stated that she walked by the VIC's room and noticed [Lee] was touching the VIC's genitals and inner thigh. When Witness 1 saw this, [Lee] attempted to look like he was playing on the tablet with the VIC… The VIC was able to point on her body where [Lee] touched her…”
Lee is currently housed in the Hamilton Correctional Institute with a scheduled release date of September 22, 2026.
