Shane Clinton McKinney Guilty Of Sexual Battery Of Minor, Given Three Life Sentences

BAY COUNTY, FL – On July 22nd, 2025, State Attorney Larry Basford announced that a man found guilty last month of sexually abusing a young girl over a 3-year period was ordered to serve 3 Life sentences.

Shane Clinton McKinney, 44, of Southport, was found guilty of Sexual Battery on a Person Less Than 12 Years of Age, and 3 counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation in June. Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark followed Prosecutor JP Ferreira’s request for the maximum sentence. He ordered McKinney to serve concurrent Life sentences on three of the charges, and 15 years on the fourth.

“The victim is a courageous young girl who took the stand against her attacker and helped bring him to justice,” Ferreira said. “Today’s sentence ensures he will not be a threat to our community in the foreseeable future.”

The defendant was arrested during an investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office with the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center providing key evidence through interviews with the victim.

The defendant was charged with sexually assaulting and molesting the victim in this case multiple times between the beginning of 2017 and the end of 2020.

Basford thanked the victims from each case for their assistance and testimony, as well as the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center for their ongoing work to protect children and hold accountable those who hurt them.