PRESS RELEASE
August 7, 2025
Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida, announces that on August 7, 2025 Circuit Court Judge John Simon sentenced Winston H. Foster to fifty-four years state prison and designated Foster a Sexual Offender. This sentence comes after Foster was found guilty by an Escambia County jury of two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Battery (victim 12-15 years of age) and two counts of Unlawful Sexual Activity with Certain Minors.
During the trial, it was revealed that Winston Foster was a former Escambia County middle school teacher and the minor victim was a former student. The sexual abuse began when the victim was 15 years old and continued for two years. Prosecuting attorney, Carrie Gilmer stated during sentencing, “Teachers should be held to a higher standard. He was someone that should have been teaching this child about art and not taking her childhood away and forcing her to do adult things.”
The criminal investigation was conducted by Investigator Renee Rhein with the Office of the State Attorney and Assistant State Attorney Carrie Gilmer prosecuted this case. For further information, please contact her at (850) 595-4500.
