Wanted Bay County Man Found in Pensacola, Faces Capital Sexual Battery Charges

By Staff Report
January 13, 2026

Bay County, FL (BuzzReport)- A months-long investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office has ended with the arrest of a 22-year-old man accused of sexually battering multiple juvenile victims—one of whom is under the age of 12—after he allegedly fled the county and attempted to evade capture by altering his appearance and vehicle.

Sheriff’s officials announced Tuesday that Ashton Selemon was taken into custody in Pensacola following a coordinated effort involving the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force, and local law enforcement agencies in Escambia County.

The investigation began on the evening of January 5, 2026, when deputies responded to a residence in Southport, Florida. A juvenile reported that Selemon had touched her inappropriately while she was spending the night at a friend’s home. Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division arranged formal interviews at the Sheriff’s Office, where the victim and a juvenile witness—accompanied by their parents—provided detailed and consistent accounts of the alleged abuse.

Investigators also gathered additional evidence that corroborated the victim’s statements. Based on the findings, authorities obtained an arrest warrant charging Selemon with Sexual Battery.

The case deepened days later when a second juvenile came forward during a Child Protection Team interview at the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, disclosing that she, too, had been sexually battered by Selemon. A second arrest warrant was issued, elevating the case to include two counts of Sexual Battery, one involving a victim under the age of 12—meeting the threshold for Capital Sexual Battery under Florida law.

According to investigators, Selemon became aware of the allegations and active warrants and fled Bay County. Detectives later determined he had changed his physical appearance and repainted his vehicle in an effort to avoid detection. Despite those efforts, law enforcement tracked him to Escambia County.

On the morning of January 13, investigators located Selemon at a residence in the Bayou Grande Villa subdivision in the Pensacola area. After briefly refusing to exit the home, he was taken into custody without incident.

Selemon was booked into the Escambia County Jail, where he remains held pending extradition back to Bay County. Authorities say he will be transferred to the Bay County Jail to face the charges.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office emphasized its commitment to protecting children and encouraged anyone with additional information related to this case—or similar incidents—to contact law enforcement immediately.