Michael William Pelton was convicted of one count of Child Abuse, following a three-day trial in Collier County. The jury returned the verdict this afternoon.
Assistant State Attorney Lawrence Raab and Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Brown prosecuted the case.
The crime happened on March 13, 2024. A witness called 911 saying they saw a man yelling at a child. They stated that the child ran away, saying the defendant was trying to hurt them.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and heard screaming. Deputies witnessed the defendant in a screaming disturbance with a woman, near a vehicle, with two children in the car.
Deputies investigated and found that earlier that day, the child victim had been on the phone to contact their mother. The defendant slapped the child victim multiple times, knocking his tooth out. He also kicked the child in the stomach.
The child left the apartment and went to the gate guard house of a neighboring community. The guard witnessed the child shaking and trembling, with a visible welt on their eye.
The defendant was then arrested.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 20, 2026.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director