Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Psychological Child Abuse

Marcus Wayne Rankin, 35, was convicted of child cruelty Thursday and sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of probation after taking a plea deal that was accepted by Judge James Colaw. 

According to the arrest report, an officer with the Gainesville Police Department and a Department of Children and Families investigator responded to the victim’s residence after getting reports he wasn’t feeling safe with Rankin, his stepfather. 

The victim told investigators that following a self-harm incident, Rankin told him, “If you are going to fuckin’ harm yourself, just go ahead and kill yourself.” Rankin picked up a knife and placed it next to the victim while encouraging him to commit suicide. 

The arrest report states the victim’s mother told investigators that Rankin was "aggressive" but “just trying to call the victim’s bluff, knowing he did not want to kill himself.”