Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Statutory Rape

Marceon Kentrell Matson, 20, was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and lewd or lascivious battery against a child last week and sentenced to three years in prison followed by five years of sex offender probation. 

Facing up to 16 years in prison, Matson took a plea deal that was accepted by Judge James Colaw. 

According to court records, on March 11, Gainesville Police Department Officer Mark Renick was dispatched to reports of a suspicious vehicle. 

When Renick made contact with the vehicle, he reportedly observed Matson laying on the undressed victim’s lap in the backseat of the car.

Matson told police that he believed the victim was 18 and didn’t know she was under 16. However, Matson admitted that he believed the victim was 17 when he began talking to her, according to the arrest report. Additionally, he later told a detective that he had sex with the victim five times over the past year or two.

The victim reportedly told police that Matson was aware of her real age.

Matson will be required to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.