Andrew S. Wilson is a 61-year-old former resident of Brushwood Lane in Palm Coast. For now, he’s living at the budget motel at 601 North State Street in Bunnell. Five years ago he was found guilty of raping a child when she was between the ages of 9 and 12. The child was his own step-daughter.
He was living on Pritchard Drive in Palm Coast at the time. He would wait for her mother to go to work, get the child drunk, then brutalize her, forcing her to perform acts on him. The child told her mother about it. Her mother did not report it. The child, by then an adult, reported it in 2015. The State Attorney’s Office almost immediately prosecuted the case, filing a capital felony charge. Until the law changed in 2008, Wilson would have been eligible for the death penalty had he been found guilty. Instead, capital felonies in those circumstances usually result in life in prison, or a sentence close to it.
Months after he was charged, Wilson opted to plead out. The plea softened the charge to rape of a child under 18–still a first degree felony, with a maximum prison sentence of 30 years. But the deal would be that he’d serve just 10 years. He appeared before then-Circuit Judge J. David Walsh on February 2, 2016, pleaded, and was sentenced to 10 years, with 200 days’ credit for time served.
Last Thursday–coincidentally, April Fool’s–Wilson was released from Taylor Correctional prison in Perry, Fla., having served just a little over half his sentence.
There is no explanation, either in his court file or from the Department of Corrections, what led to his early release. On a 10-year sentence, even with 202 days’ credit and gain time after serving 85 percent of his sentence, his release would not have taken place until around January 2023. Now, he is to serve his 20 years’ probation a relatively free man, though he will have toi follow certain stringent rules.
He walked into court in Bunnell a free man on Monday, in a white t-shirt and black mask. The court had made an error when it sentenced him five years ago. It had designated him as a sexual offender, when he is, in fact, a sexual predator. He had been summoned to court so the judge, now Circuit Judge Terence Perkins, and the prosecutor, Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark, could fix that error.
“If there’s anything I can say that can change that,” Wilson told the judge, hoping that he would not be so designated.
“Unfortunately, it’s not discretionary by the court. It’s required by the statute,” the judge said.
“Probably the biggest effect of How many times he has to go in and update his [information], his address, things like that,” Clark said. “It’s a little more strenuous than it is for sex offenders. It’s lifetime, just like sex offender. But the big thing is going to be the How often he has to go in and deal with his local Sheriff’s Department.” He will also have to update his driver’s license, which must reflect the designation. And he will be subjected to the sheriff’s public notices every time he moves. The sheriff is required by law to disseminate an announcement every a sexual predator moves in or changes address.
After the judge explained the particulars and urged Wilson to go over the terms of his designation and probation, Wilson thanked the court and walked out.
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Agkistrodon says
He should never have been released. He should have never made it out if prison, except in a pine box.
Richard says
So why is anyone surprised that this crap is happening? What do you really expect? HELL, in other states like California & New York they are letting harden felony criminals out of prison due to Covid. Plus in California the LA District Attorney is no longer prosecuting criminals. So people in Florida, wake up as this will eventually start happening here also. The judicial system has been broken for decades with plea deals, felonies reduced to misdemeanors, etc. People sitting on death row for decades, what a bunch of BS! For me I will do ANYTHING to protect myself and my family. Don’t even THINK about coming through my front door as you will most definitely will leave in a black bag. That is NOT a threat but a promise!
Steve says
UNbelievable us all I can say about that. HE should never be released IMO. WTF
Joe Stolfi says
Flagler Live ..
Interesting reporting — What happened to the mother who: “Her mother did not report it.”
after: “The child told her mother about it” ?????
I’m curious, as well as are others ..
perhaps you know
Thank you
Outsider says
Great; just drop him off in Bunnell. Now he will have easy access to his future home at the homeless shelter where he will probably be given free rides into town to do his shopping with his welfare check. God love it!
Resident says
WTH!! This makes me sick! For a sexual PREDATOR, it is guaranteed he will do it again….hence the designation. The worst of the worst. He should have spent every last breath in prison. Everyone remember to check the state sex offender list and avoid those areas where they live.
Resident says
Also, we need to put pressure on the State Attorney’s Office not to allow plea deals with this type felon.
Concerned Citizen says
This hotel along with others like it are the reason sexual offenders are allowed to move here. They don’t do background checks. And only care that they are paid every week. I think FFCSO and his probation officer need to do an area assesment. They might find that he is way to close to our schools.
The best thing we can do as a community is call the hotel repeatedly and let them know our displeasure. Complaints can also be filed to the city/county/state level licensing division. This hotel has a busniess license. And we can use that to our advantage.
We can only hope he violates his probation. And earns a longer stay. I’m very surprised that jail house justice didn’t prevail in this case.
Jillene Hamill-Wilson says
There is NO homeless shelter in Flagler County. He will be on the streets with the rest of us….hold tight to your children!
Outsider says
You are technically correct; there is a cold weather shelter at The Church On The Rock.