In a case that has sent shockwaves through Florida and beyond, Alexis Von Yates, a former nurse from Ocala, was sentenced on September 16, 2025, to two years in prison after being caught by her husband engaging in sexual acts with his 15-year-old son. The incident, which occurred on July 26, 2024, has left deep scars on the victim’s family and sparked intense public debate about justice, accountability, and the protection of children in blended families.
According to court documents obtained by multiple outlets, including Fox News and The Nightly, the abuse unfolded late at night while Von Yates’s husband, Frank, was believed to be working a late shift as a lineman. The teen boy, along with his younger siblings, was staying with the couple for summer vacation. After putting her own two children to bed, Von Yates and her stepson smoked a THC vape, played video games, and settled in to watch a horror movie on the living room couch.
It was during this time that Von Yates, then 34, initiated sexual contact with her stepson. The arrest affidavit detailed that she told the boy she was “horny” because she hadn’t had sex in two weeks and was on her period. The victim later recalled that Von Yates moaned, “Oh f--k” and “This is so bad” as the encounter unfolded. The pair believed Frank would be out all night, but he unexpectedly returned home and walked in on them in the act.
Startled by the sound of the garage door, they hesitated only briefly before Frank entered the room. The boy ran into the bathroom with his pants around his legs while Von Yates tried to conceal herself under a blanket. Frank, shocked and enraged, shouted, “What the f--k is going on?” according to Court TV and Fox News. He then immediately took his son out of the home and drove him to his grandparents’ house, reportedly telling the boy he had “ruined his life.”
The incident was not reported to authorities until four days later, when an anonymous tip spurred a police investigation. The victim told investigators that Von Yates had been making inappropriate sexual remarks for about a week leading up to the assault. This pattern of grooming behavior, as described in court records, added to the gravity of the case.
Von Yates was arrested on November 6, 2024, and initially charged with sexual battery by a person in familial authority—a first-degree felony in Florida that carries a potential life sentence and a $10,000 fine. Shortly after her arrest, the Florida Department of Health suspended her nursing license, stripping her of her ability to work in her chosen profession.
During the sentencing hearing, the victim’s biological mother delivered a powerful and emotional victim impact statement. She described Von Yates as an “incestuous pedophile” and a “coward” who had shown “absolutely no remorse or accountability for your despicable actions.” The mother also revealed the devastating impact the abuse had on her son, who is now undergoing therapy and struggling with the loss of his relationship with his father. She stated, “It is not fair that I am the only one left to pick up the pieces of the mess Alexis created. I am angry, I am hurt, at times it makes me physically ill. But I, like (my son), will rise above.”
The judge presiding over the case, Florida Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Timothy McCourt, accepted a plea deal that reduced the charge to lewd and lascivious battery on a child between the ages of 12 and 16. The decision to accept the plea was made in part because both the victim and his mother were “one hundred percent in agreement with the sentencing,” according to Court TV. The plea deal, which avoided a lengthy and traumatic trial, resulted in a sentence of two years in state prison, followed by two years of community control (a form of house arrest), and 10 years of probation as a registered sex offender. Von Yates was also ordered to complete 200 hours of community service, pay fines and court fees, and have no contact with the victim.
Throughout the proceedings, Von Yates appeared stone-faced, wearing a black turtleneck and makeup, showing little emotion as the court handed down its sentence. The courtroom was tense as the victim’s mother spoke directly to her, saying, “There is nowhere you can go to escape the truth. For the rest of your life the world will see you for exactly what you are. An incestuous pedophile who will forever only be remembered for what she took from a child.”
The father’s reaction to the events was also documented in the court records. After discovering the abuse, Frank Von Yates reportedly called his wife a “c---” and “child predator” before whisking his son away. According to the victim’s mother, Frank has not spoken to his son since the incident, further compounding the boy’s trauma and sense of isolation.
Legal experts and child advocates have weighed in on the case, noting the complexities involved when the perpetrator is a trusted family member. The plea deal, while controversial to some, was seen as a way to spare the victim additional pain. As Judge McCourt stated, the family’s agreement with the resolution played a significant role in the court’s decision.
The case has also raised broader questions about the systems in place to protect children from abuse, particularly in blended families where lines of authority and trust can become blurred. The fact that the abuse went undiscovered for several days—and was only reported due to an anonymous tip—has prompted calls for greater vigilance and support for at-risk youth.
Community reaction in Ocala and across Florida has been one of outrage and sorrow. Many have expressed disbelief that a nurse, someone entrusted with the care of others, could commit such a crime. The swift loss of Von Yates’s nursing license underscored the seriousness with which regulatory bodies treat such offenses.
For the victim and his family, the road to healing will be long. The mother’s statement reflected both the pain of the past year and a determination to move forward: “Despite all of the trauma inflicted upon him, he still has a beautiful life to look forward to. A life full of love, hope and endless possibilities.”
As Alexis Von Yates begins her prison sentence, the community she left behind is left grappling with the aftermath. The case stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of abuse—and the importance of justice, support, and healing for those most affected.
