Gainesville man sentenced to multiple life sentences in capital sexual battery case

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Graden Olliedees Smith, 42, has been sentenced to two life sentences plus two other shorter sentences after a jury convicted him of two counts of capital sexual battery, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and giving obscene material to a minor.

Graden was arrested in June 2019 after the victim contacted Gainesville Police Department (GPD) regarding sexual abuse that had occurred multiple times between the summer of 2007 and 2009. GPD Detectives identified Smith, who was already in custody on other charges, as the suspect. The State filed charges of two counts of capital sexual battery on a person under 12 years old, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and providing obscenity to a minor. Assistant State Attorney Ryan Nagel led the prosecution team in a jury trial that began during the week of April 24, 2023. After a 19-hour deliberation, the jury found Smith guilty on all counts as charged.

Judge William Davis presided over the jury trial and sentenced Smith to two life sentences on the capital sexual battery charges, 15 years for lewd and lascivious exhibition, and 5 years for giving obscenity to a minor. Smith has been in custody at the Alachua County Department of the Jail on this case and unrelated criminal cases since 2019 and will be transferred to the Department of Corrections to serve his sentences.