Tomlinson gets 2 life sentences for child sex crimes

John “Mitch” Mitchell Tomlinson was sentenced to serve two consecutive life sentences, in addition to a 30-year state prison sentence, for sexually molesting a 9-year-old girlf in Gulf Breeze in 1996.

On July 19, Tomlinson was found guilty of two counts of capital sexual battery upon a child less than 12-years old.

The victim’s allegations were corroborated by the testimony of another woman who was also molested by Tomlinson in 2000 when she was 10 years old while visiting Tomlinson at his residence, according to a press release issued by the State Attorney’s Office.

Tomlinson is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence for a November 2010 conviction wherein he was found guilty of sexual battery upon another minor in his care.

Tomlinson served as the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s District 2 supervisor – Navarre –  from 1989 until 2005, when he was transferred to Districts 4 and 5. At the time of his arrest, he was in charge of courthouse security in Milton.

For more on this story, see the July 28 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.