By-Line: Courtney Sebastianelli, PIO, FCSO
On August 1, the Macon County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina arrested Kermit Booth, 72, of Franklin, North Carolina, on a Flagler County warrant for two counts of sexual battery of a victim under 12.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office investigation into Booth, who has a criminal history of aggravated stalking, began after the victim’s mother contacted law enforcement on February 14, 2015. According to the victim’s mother, Booth solicited sexual intercourse from the victim multiple times from 2006 to 2009, during which the victim was approximately 6-to-9 years old and Booth was approximately 53-to-56 years old, but the victim refused. However, according to the victim, Booth forced the victim to perform oral sex on at least one occasion while at Booth’s Palm Coast residence.
Due to significant investigative challenges, the case saw little movement for several years. In March 2023, the victim reengaged with FCSO’s Major Case Unit, providing additional evidence against Booth. With the new information and using investigative means, detectives were able to relaunch the investigation and corroborate the mother’s and the victim’s statements. Additionally, in February 2025, the FCSO Digital Forensics Unit identified new forensic evidence against Booth.
On July 29, after a thorough investigation, the FCSO obtained a warrant for Booth’s arrest for sexual battery of a victim under 12. On the warrant, the bond was set at $500,000 by a Flagler County judge. The FCSO Fugitive Unit, working with the North Carolina Macon County Sheriff’s Office, located and arrested Booth on August 1 in Franklin, North Carolina, on his Flagler County warrant. He was transported to the Macon County Detention Center and initially held under a $500,000 bond. A North Carolina judge later lowered the bond to $35,000, and Booth posted bond with an extradition hearing scheduled for September 8.
Kermit Booth (Macon County Detention Center mugshot)
“This case is a disturbing reminder of how predators can exploit situations to harm children,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “While we commend the bravery of the victim and the work of our Major Case Unit in obtaining a warrant and arrest, it’s deeply troubling that a North Carolina judge chose to lower the bond set by a Florida judge. This victim waited 10 years for him to be held accountable and now this North Carolina judge has victimized our victim again by allowing him to be released before his extradition hearing on a very low bond. This is a travesty of justice and in all my years in law enforcement, I have never heard of a fugitive from justice case being handled like this by an out-of-state judge. I promise the victim we will continue to fight for justice.”
