Gulfport Man Sentenced for Sexual Battery of Girl

District Attorney Joel Smith announced today that Antonio Rodriquez-Rodgers Ainsworth pled guilty earlier this week to Sexual Battery of a 14-year old girl. After accepting his guilty plea, Judge Lisa Dodson sentenced the defendant to the maximum of 30 years, 15 suspended, leaving 15 years to serve. Because of the nature of the crime, the sentence must be served day for day, without the possibility of parole. After serving the 15 years, he will be placed on 5 years of post-release supervision and be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
The sexual battery investigation and arrest occurred in October 2015 after the child’s disclosure to her family and to Gulfport Police. When detectives arrested Ainsworth, he confessed to the sexual battery. The victim was 14 years old at the time of the crime, and Ainsworth was 35.
At sentencing, the victim addressed the court and described the psychological effects of the crime on her. The victim then addressed Ainsworth and told him that she did not hate him, because she realized that hate gives another person power over you, and she had chosen to not let him have power over her. “The victim showed tremendous courage throughout the process and thanks to today’s guilty plea, she will be spared having to endure the additional trauma of having to testify at trial,” said ADA Alison Baker, who tried the case with Jason Josef.
Ainsworth spoke to the court during sentencing and said, “I deeply apologize and take full responsibility. I can’t take away the pain I caused her. I’m sorry.” During sentencing, Judge Dodson told the defendant, “you have destroyed your life and almost destroyed hers, but she appears to be strong and she may overcome this.” Judge Dodson also noted that “this child has to live with this forever. No sentence can undo that.”