Seward sentenced to 60 years

A Pensacola man was sentenced to 60 years in prison Thursday for three counts of sexual battery and one count of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child, by Santa Rosa Circuit Judge Thomas Santurri.

Jeffery Scott Seward, 43, was found guilty of these charges by a Santa Rosa County Jury back on July 14.

The events leading to Seward’s arrest and conviction occurred between May of 2004 and May of 2008 at various parks and campgrounds in Santa Rosa County when the victim was between the ages of 12 and 17.

Deputies with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office arrested Seward on June 21 of 2009.

Following his arrest Seward gave a video statement to deputies and admitted that he committed the sexual acts upon the child only to later deny those admissions.

During his trial Seward testified that he did not recall making the statements on the video recording, but he did remember calling to recant after his recorded interview.