A Dade County jury found Jesse Miles Seals guilty of child molestation on April 22, 2025, following a two-day trial held before the Honorable Judge Don Thompson in Dade County Superior Court. The conviction stemmed from courageous testimony by the victim, who detailed numerous instances of inappropriate contact with Seals beginning when she was approximately 12 years old and he was dating her older sister.

The victim testified that at age 15, Seals, then 33, took her on a midnight drive and molested her. A witness corroborated the victim’s state, testifying they saw her shortly after the incident in a state of hyperventilation and tears. The prosecution presented testimony from three additional women who described experiencing inappropriate touching and interactions with Seals as teenage girls, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. Following the guilty verdict, Judge Thompson sentenced Seals to 20 years, with 15 years to be served in the Department of Corrections, followed by a period of probation under strict sex offender special conditions. The case was investigated by Detective Misty McConathy of the Dade County Sheriff’s Office.

District Attorney Clayton M. Fuller led the prosecution, with support from administrative staff Annabelle Carter, Tamara Clayton, Victim Advocate Amy Reed, and Chief Investigator Christy Smith.

In a statement, the victim expressed her gratitude, saying, “I want to thank District Attorney Fuller, Detective McConathy, and the entire DA’s Office for standing by me and believing me. I was scared, but they helped give me the strength to speak out and get justice for me and the other girls.”

District Attorney Fuller praised the victim’s bravery and issued a stern warning: “If you’re a grown man who targets teenage girls in our community, expect to spend the next chapter of your life behind bars. I know Sheriff Ray Cross has my back on this: we don’t tolerate predators in Dade County — not now, not ever.”