PALATKA, Fla. – An 84-year-old Putnam County man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a jury convicted him Thursday of capital sexual battery on a child. Following a swift three-day trial, the jury reached a verdict in just 30 minutes, leading the judge to immediately impose a mandatory life sentence upon Gilberto Del Castillo-Espana.
The conviction marks the end of a harrowing legal process that exposed how Castillo-Espana allegedly leveraged his former professional standing to exploit vulnerable families.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza addressed the gravity of the verdict shortly after the proceedings concluded. “For the child survivors of rape—they live with the uniquely personal and profound consequences of the past abuse,” Larizza said. “I wish we could erase the trauma from their consciousness, but the best we can do is hold the perpetrators accountable. Please keep the survivors of sexual assault in your thoughts and prayers.”
The investigation into Castillo-Espana began in 2023 when the victim’s parents—who are undocumented immigrants—noticed alarming behavioral shifts in their child. According to Col. Joe Wells of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the child had become significantly withdrawn, began isolating from others, and experienced rapid, unexplained weight gain.
Fearful of their immigration status, the parents were initially hesitant to involve law enforcement. However, they eventually sought guidance from a local faith leader, who played a pivotal role in encouraging the family to report the abuse. While deputies initially suspected physical maltreatment, further investigation revealed the child had been a victim of sexual battery.
As detectives unraveled the case, they discovered a pattern of calculated manipulation. Castillo-Espana had maintained a long-standing relationship with the victim’s family, dating back to before the child was even born. The family had trusted him implicitly, viewing him as a helpful mentor and a pillar of support within the community.
That trust, investigators allege, was a carefully constructed façade. Before retiring in 2015, Castillo-Espana served as a coordinator for the Putnam County School District’s English as a Second Language program. In that capacity, he was tasked with assisting migrant families navigating life in a new country. Although his role did not place him in a direct classroom teaching position, it granted him access to migrant children and local youth.
Authorities now believe Castillo-Espana intentionally used his position of influence to target children within the Hispanic community, preying on families he knew might be too afraid of deportation to seek help from the authorities.
Castillo-Espana had been in custody since his initial arrest in August 2024. With his conviction and sentencing now finalized, officials are hopeful that this outcome provides a measure of justice for the survivor and serves as a warning against those who would exploit the trust of immigrant families.
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