This week, State Attorney Dennis Ward announced that former Marathon resident Eric Edward Cadogan, age 41, has been sentenced to a combined 40 years in prison following federal and state convictions for incest, sexual battery, lewd or lascivious molestation, child neglect and promoting the sexual performance of a child.
Cadogan is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence in a separate child exploitation case. Upon completion of that term, he will be transferred to the Florida Department of Corrections to serve a 20-year state prison sentence, to run concurrently across the state counts.
Investigators determined that these criminal activities had been occurring for a significant period of time. During earlier proceedings, state social services intervened, and the Cadogans lost custody of their children due to abuse and neglect.
On Aug. 18, Circuit Judge Mark Jones adjudicated Eric Cadogan guilty and imposed the following sentences:
- Incest (F.S. 826.04) – 5 years in Florida state prison.
- Sexual battery on person under 12 (F.S. 794.011) – 20 years in Florida state prison.
- Lewd or lascivious molestation (F.S. 800.04) – 20 years in Florida state prison.
- Contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child (F.S. 827.04) – 7 counts, 1 year in Florida state prison (each).
- Promoting sexual performance by a child (F.S. 827.071) – 3 counts, 15 years in Florida state prison (each).
- Sexual battery on a helpless person (F.S. 794.011) – 2 counts, 20 years in Florida state prison (each).
- Neglect of a child causing great bodily harm (F.S. 827.03) – 3 counts, 5 years in Florida state prison (each).
Additional conditions imposed include sexual offender probation upon release, lifetime sexual predator registration, court costs and fines.
This prosecution is directly tied to the case of Kia Lynn Cadogan, age 37, Eric’s wife, who cooperated in the investigation and was sentenced earlier this year to 13 years in Florida state prison followed by 13 years of probation for incest, sexual battery and child neglect.
Despite the reduced sentence based on her cooperation, she will remain on Florida’s sexual predator registry for life — a designation that requires lifetime reporting, monitoring and strict supervision under state law.
“This is one of the most appalling cases ever prosecuted in Monroe County,” said Ward. “Children should never be subjected to this kind of depravity — least of all by their own parents. What Eric and Kia Cadogan did is beyond disgraceful; it is inhuman. Florida has delivered justice, and both will pay with long years in prison. Let it be clear: Anyone who exploits or abuses children in this state will face the harshest consequences the law allows. I also want to thank major crimes Assistant State Attorney Colleen Dunne for her outstanding perseverance and commitment in bringing these cases to justice.”
“These cases are tough on everyone involved — investigators, prosecutors and the community at large,” added Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield. “But most of all, they are devastating for the victims and their family members, who should never have had to endure such pain. This outcome was possible only because of a strong law enforcement partnership between our office, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and multiple jurisdictions working together.”
Eric Cadogan will be transferred to the Florida Department of Corrections at the completion of his federal sentence.
