Date: September 1, 2012
by: The Observer Staff

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison.

(Click “Like” to become a fan of the Palm Coast Observer.)

After a two-day trial that began on Tuesday, a Putnam County jury deliberated for less than 40 minutes Thursday, Aug. 30, before finding 44-year-old Palm Coast man Michael Eric Canaday guilty, as charged, of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child between the ages of 12 and 16, a second-degree felony; and sexual activity with a child, a first-degree felony.

According to the Florida State Attorney’s office, Canaday would go into the child’s bedroom and wake up the child when he molested her in a home in Putnam County. The dates of occurance were listed as Aug. 27, 2004, to July 1, 2008.

Assistant State Attorneys Christina Opsahl and Ken Janesk prosecuted Canaday. Janesk said the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison. Canaday is expected to be sentenced sometime in October by Circuit Judge Carlos E. Mendoza.