ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Anthony Guadalupe was sentenced to 70 years years in Florida state prison Friday after being found guilty of child sexual abuse while he worked at a daycare in 2022.
A judge sentenced Guadalupe to 70 years in Florida state prison for the lewd and lascivious molestation of a minor. He also sentenced Guadalupe to 15 additional years for attempted lewd and lascivious molestation of a minor, but ordered this sentence to run concurrent to the other sentence.
Guadalupe will be on lifetime sex offender probation upon release and will be registered as a sex offender.
State Attorney for the 7th Judicial District R.J. Larizza said he had been pushing for a life sentence, but said 70 years is appropriate.
"These kids and the families, they're going to carry this around for the rest of their lives," Larizza told First Coast News. "And that's one of the reasons that we thought a life sentence would be appropriate. Plus we really don't want him to get out because we're afraid he's gonna reoffend."
Guadalupe spoke to the judge himself Friday before being sentenced.
"I would never have done anything, anything to hurt those children,” he said.
Six parents of victims asked the judge for Guadalupe to receive a life sentence. Speaking to the judge, a father had to stop speaking several times to close his eyes and take deep breaths. His face was red and his hands were shaking as he talked about the impacts to his daughter.
“I already feel like I’ve failed her by not speaking up sooner,” he said through tears.
"I felt like my world was breaking into pieces," said the mother of another victim.
Guadalupe’s defense attorney called him an “18-year-old little boy” with autism who “didn’t understand what was going on.” The prosecution argued he did not have autism. Friday started with the defense and prosecution calling witnesses who were doctors and gave conflicting testimonies about whether Guadalupe was on the autism spectrum.
Those in the courtroom to support Guadalupe wore autism awareness ribbons. Guadalupe’s parents asked the judge for mercy.
“The total of years is an extreme for a young man with no priors who doesn’t understand what can be inappropriate,” his mother, Jessica Guadalupe, said.
“He’s doesn’t want to grow up and unfortunately I cannot pump the breaks," said Guadalupe's father, Anthony Guadalupe, Sr. "He’s at a place that he is going to and I cannot protect him.”
As the sentence was read, several people there to support Guadalupe could be seen shaking their heads "no." After the case, parents of victims hugged each other and the prosecutors.
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A man convicted of multiple counts of child sexual abuse is set to learn his prison sentence today.
Anthony Guadalupe, 20, was charged with 22 counts of child sexual abuse related to acts committed during his time at the Chappell Schools daycare in 2022.
He faces between 35 and 103 years in prison, according to sentencing guidelines.
Guadalupe family and friends spoke to his mental ability and character. His father pleaded for a shorter sentence.
"Your honor, I plead for grace and mercy for my only son," his mother said.
When Guadalupe testified, he asked for mercy, chance and said he was doing his job as it was taught to him. He asked for another chance to rejoin society at some point.
"I would have never done anything, anything, to hurt those children," he said.
Prosecutors questioned Guadalupe's account with how he handled children while he disputed footage from the daycare.
The mother of one of the victim's said she thinks about what more she could have done all the time. Another parent called Guadalupe a "monster."
"The idea I could have done something haunts me constantly," a victim's mother said.
In June, the jury found Guadalupe guilty on 12 counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, one downgraded charge of attempted lewd and lascivious molestation and three counts of an unlawful and lascivious act, which is a lesser charge. Guadalupe was found not guilty on six counts of child sex crimes.
Prosecutors said several incidents were captured on classroom livestream video. The lead detective said after reviewing the videos, she determined multiple of Guadalupe's actions were inappropriate. She pointed to a video of Guadalupe appearing to pat students' genital area, lifting children up against his groin area and bouncing others on his lap.
At one point in the video, the detective said, a child's underwear is pulled down.
The prosecution argued there is "absolutely no legitimate reason for him [Guadalupe] to be doing that," as more videos of the assaults were shown in June. The prosecutor pointed to several instances in the videos that showed Guadalupe pulling away from the students he was interacting with as teachers and parents entered the room.
Guadalupe's defense team said there was an innocent explanation for his actions and Guadalupe was playing with the children.
"The cameras don't lie. You can see for yourself what he did," the prosecutor argued.
Guadalupe initially pleaded guilty to 14 counts of child molestation in October 2023 but withdrew his plea months later. He then pleaded not guilty to additional molestation charges, totaling more than 20 counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim less than 12 years old.
In March, Guadalupe underwent a psychological evaluation the same day his attorney filed a notice to the court that he planned to use an insanity defense. Guadalupe's attorney argued there were "reasonable grounds" to believe he was legally insane at the time the alleged crimes were committed, court documents show. A motion was later filed withdrawing the intent to rely on an insanity defense during the trial, court records show.