Courtesy photo
Andrew J. Riddener, 22, of Holly Hill, was found guilty of sexual battery of a 12-year-old girl and faces up to 16 years in prison when he is sentenced next month. Click on the attachment to read the charging affidavits and police reports.
DAYTONA BEACH -- A jury deliberated for 1 ½ hours Thursday before finding Andrew J. Ridener guilty as charged to felony lewd or lascivious battery of a 12-year-old girl he met at at a local park and befriended as a youth minister.
The jury also found him guilty of resisting an officer without violence, a first degree misdemeanor. But the jury did find that Ridener, 22, of Holly Hill, was not guilty of the charges of lewd or lascivious conduct, and lewd or lascivious molestation, the more serious felonies that could have netted him a life sentence.
Prosecuting attorney Tiffany Adleman said Ridener faces up to 16 years in prison when he is sentenced by Circuit Judge J David Walsh, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27.
Ridener, then 21, was arrested Aug. 20, 2009, by Holly Hill police at a local park on charges of having sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl, after having met her weeks earlier as a youth pastor at the New Start Children's Ministry.