Sarasota man sentenced to 40 years in prison for impregnating 13-year-old

A 37-year-old man in Sarasota was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Thursday for sexually assaulting and impregnating a 13-year-old victim.

The Herald-Tribune reported that Corey Duane Primus had entered an "open plea" on October 4, 2022. He was convicted of sexual battery on a child between the ages of 12 and 18 by someone in familial/custodial authority, impregnating a minor, and using a computer to seduce a child to commit a sexual act.

Primus was apparently living in a home with the victim and her family in July 2021. He reportedly began texting the young victim late in the evening and early morning, requesting that she "perform sex acts on him." When the parents left the house, he would be in charge of the minor. Sexual activity reportedly occurred during this time, per the report.

When the Sarasota police conducted an investigation, they discovered that the 13-year-old was pregnant. They also found numerous texts between Primus and the victim which suggested it was his child. Primus allegedly continued to ask for sexual favors from the victim despite the pregnancy.

When DNA testing confirmed Primus was the father, the pregnancy was terminated, according to WWSB.

The prosecution sought to put Primus away for life, but the defense suggested he spend 10 years in prison, with another 10 years of probation after he was released.

Judge Rochelle Curley sentenced Primus to 40 years in prison. He is also not to have any contact with the victim or her family and was designated a sexual predator.

The Sarasota Police Department decided to investigate the situation after the victim's parents learned of the crimes after the hearing about it from one of the victim's siblings, per the report.

Curley heard prior allegations against Primus in Polk County in 2015 and 2016, and heard from the victim's parents. She also reviewed the facts of the case, including all the text messages swapped between Primus and the victim.

The Herald-Tribune reported that Assistant State Attorney S. Ethan Dunn, the chief prosecutor in the case, praised the work carried out by Detective Angela Cox of the Sarasota Police Department and Master Deputy Brett Socha of the Polk Sheriff's Office in providing justice for the young victim.

“This defendant abused his position of trust in this home to prey upon children," Dunn said.

"The victim’s courage to come forward about the abuse and the support of her family and law enforcement has ensured that the Defendant will not be able to harm any children in our community for a very long time."

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