(Walton County, Florida) Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida, announces that on April 10, 2025, a Walton County Jury found Dr. Francis Nicoli Herrbold guilty of Sexual Battery. Judge J. Ryan Love set sentencing for June 3, 2025 and remanded Herrbold into custody pending sentencing. Herrbold faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
On June 24, 2023, Herrbold was on the victim’s yacht that was docked in the Sandestin Marina during a fishing tournament. The group of friends were socializing during the tournament festivities. At the end of the night, the victim went to sleep in the main cabin of the yacht. The victim’s friend locked the only door to the yacht, in an effort to secure the victim alone inside for the night.
The victim’s friend made sure everyone else left the yacht, but she was unable to wake Herrbold to get him to leave. After everyone else left, Herrbold climbed along the side of the yacht and through a hatch to get to the victim. He lowered himself through the hatch into a guest cabin and then went to the victim’s cabin. The victim woke up to Herrbold sexually battering her. The victim reported Herrbold to law enforcement the next day.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Angela Liles prosecuted the case on behalf of Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida. For further information, please contact Ms. Liles at (850) 892-8080.
