A Cape Coral man has been sentenced to life in prison for sexual battery on a child.

Garnett Gary Salmon, 40, of Cape Coral, was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday and designated a sexual predator for crimes against a child.

Salmon was found guilty as charged in September of Engaging in an Act that Constitutes Sexual Battery Upon a Child 12 Years of Age or Older but Younger than 18 Years of Age by Person in Familial or Custodial Authority.

The jury returned the guilty verdict following a two-day trial in Lee County.

The crimes occurred between 2015 and 2017. In 2019, the victim told an adult what happened. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and began an investigation.

The case was brought to the State Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit and a warrant was issued for Salmon’s arrest. An officer with the Cape Coral Police Department located the defendant and took him into custody.

Assistant State Attorney Heather Fly and Assistant State Attorney Lindsey Garza prosecuted the case.