‘I have a problem’: Pastor admits to sexually assaulting child, sentenced to life in prison

PONCE DE LEON, Fla. (WJHG/Gray News) - A Florida pastor has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually battering a teenage boy who was under his custodial authority.State Attorney Larry Basford announced that Circuit Judge Russell Roberts sentenced Randon Lee Carroll, 41, on Tuesday. Prosecutors said the reported abuse happened earlier this year.Carroll had been scheduled to stand trial in October but entered an open plea to sexual battery of a victim over 12 but under 18 while under his custodial authority. He also pleaded to sexual performance by a child for videotaping some of the acts, prosecutors said.An open plea leaves the sentence to the judge. According to the State Attorney’s Office, Holmes County Chief Prosecutor Jake Cook had not offered Carroll a plea deal other than life in prison.Prosecutors said Carroll confessed to the sexual acts, saying, “I have a problem. I shouldn’t have done it.” The details the defendant gave during his interview matched the details given by t