Two people accused of crimes victimizing young people have been sentenced to prison. Here's what we know:
State v. Dianely Torres
Judge: Circuit Judge Peter Brigham.
Lawyers: Assistant State Attorney McKall Miller and defense attorney John Senkarik.
Charges: Torres, 25, a former substitute teacher,faced 17 charges including lewd or lascivious battery on a child age 12 to 16, lewd lascivious molestation of a child, child pornography, and transmission of harmful material to a minor.
About the case: A report was made in 2025 that Torres was massaging a student's head in her lap. During their investigation, officials said they found nude pictures of Torres on the boy's phone and sexually explicit drawings from her.
According to the law enforcement account, she told the Marion
County Sheriff's Office that she and the student had been dating and they shared naked pictures. She was arrested.
Torres worked for ESS, a company that provides substitute teachers for Marion County Public Schools.
When was Torres' court appearance? Oct. 14.
At Torres' hearing, was she in or out of jail? In jail. On Aug. 13, she entered a no contest plea and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered.
What happened at the hearing? The judge told Torres her lowest sentence would be 25 years in prison. He asked her questions and explained the procedures to her.
Prosecutor Miller asked for 30 years in prison and 15 years of probation. The state also sought probation conditions: have no contact with the victim or juveniles; complete a mental evaluation; and pay fines and court costs. As someone convicted of a sexual offense, Torres also must register as a sexual offender.
The prosecutor said Torres groomed the victim, sent explicit and graphic text messages to him, and therefore deserves more than 25 years behind bars. Miller read aloud a prepared statement from the victim's mother. It states their family is supporting the victim, who has been traumatized by the ordeal. The goal is to heal the child.
The defense said it does not dispute the facts but pointed out that Torres cooperated with authorities and has shown remorse. The attorney sought a downward departure from state sentencing guidelines, arguing that his client was not emotionally mature, was separated from her family, and was operating in a new environment.
He said Torres did not want a trial, as she wished to spare the victim and his family.
Speaking on behalf of the defendant's family, Torres' sister tearfully pleaded for mercy and told the court her sister would not repeat the mistake.
Reading aloud from a prepared statement, Torres told the judge she crossed boundaries, is sorry for what she did, and accepts responsibility for her actions.
Before sentencing, the judge told Torres he was not going to grant her a downward departure from state sentencing guidelines. He said while she has shown remorse, she's a professional and was put in a position of trust that she abused.
He sentenced her to 30 years in prison and 15 years of probation. Torres has credit for 526 days already spent at the county jail. He agreed with the state's recommended probation conditions.
State v. Drithve Babu Shivakumar
Judge: Circuit Judge Steven Rogers.
Lawyers: Defense attorney Michelle Yard, and prosecuting the case was the statewide prosecutors office.
Charge: Use computer to seduce/solicit/lure child.
When was Shivakumar's hearing? Oct. 14.
What was the outcome? The 23-year-old man pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 21 months in prison with 415 days of credit for time served, in accordance with a plea deal.
As part of that arrangement, the defendant also must register as a sexual offender and pay fines and court costs. Charges of travel to meet a minor after use of computer to lure child, unlawful use of two-way communications device to facilitate, and human trafficking were not pursed by the statewide prosecutors office. Babu Shivakumar is presently under a federal hold from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Was Shivakumar in or out of jail at the time of sentencing? At the Marion County Jail.
About the case: Authorities said Babu Shivakumar went online and arranged a sexual encounter with someone he thought was a child. The person actually was an undercover law enforcement official.
Babu Shivakumar is from India and his student visa was revoked. He was a University of Florida student, officials said.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Former substitute teacher sentenced to 30 years in prison
