Cornelious Francis Florman, 53, was sentenced this morning to 7 years in prison followed by 8
years of sex offender probation for one count of Sexual Battery. He was also designated a sexual
offender. Florman pled guilty as part of a plea agreement for the crime he committed in 1998. He
was identified after a sexual assault kit was sent for lab testing by the Lee County Sheriff’s
Office in 2017 following a national backlog. Florman’s DNA was identified in lab testing. The
Lee County Sheriff’s Office handled the initial crime report, investigation and arrest.
The victim was beaten until she was unconscious and sexually assaulted on Fort Myers Beach.
For today’s sentencing the victim provided a victim impact statement to be read to the court,
which stated in part:
“It’s been a long time coming to finally be able to put the events of … behind me. I’ve been
looking over my shoulder ever since the attack, wondering who it was and why this was done to
me. Recurrent nightmares and insomnia have plagued me. I really thought I was going to die
right then and there. Fast forward to the past couple of years where I find myself having to relive
it all again. The stress of bringing this man to justice has been immense, but it is now well worth
it. A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders knowing he is going to prison and unable to
hurt another woman. I want to thank everyone in the Justice system that has had any part in this case. I’ve been in a prison of sorts for over 20 years. Closing the jail door on you Mr. Florman is
finally setting me free.”
Assistant State Attorney Francine Donnorummo, Chief of the Special Victims Unit and Assistant
State Attorney Will Dorman handled the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
ssyoen@sao20.org
239-533-1125