Manatee County deputies are asking the public for help finding Michele Oxendine, who is wanted on a warrant for battery on a person 65 years of age or older. The case was featured in the sheriff's office's latest Warrant Wednesday post, a recurring social media effort meant to generate community tips on active felony warrants.
According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Oxendine is wanted for battery on a person 65 or older. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 941-747-3011. The sheriff's office has not released additional details about where or when the alleged incident occurred, the nature of the physical contact alleged, or Oxendine's relationship to the victim, and those specifics remain unknown.
The charge itself carries significant legal weight because of the victim's age. Under Florida Statute § 784.08, simple battery against someone 65 or older is automatically elevated from what would normally be a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, according to the Florida Senate. That reclassification applies regardless of whether the alleged act involved serious injury, since ordinary battery under Florida law only requires intentionally touching or striking someone against their will, or causing them bodily harm.
What a Conviction Would Mean
If Oxendine is apprehended and convicted, she would face steep statutory penalties. A third-degree felony conviction for battery on a person 65 or older carries a maximum of five years in state prison, five years of probation, and a fine of up to $5,000, per the Sammis Law Firm. Notably, Florida law also strips judges of the discretion to soften that outcome for this particular offense. Under Florida Statute § 784.08(3), the same statute notes, courts are prohibited from suspending, deferring, or withholding adjudication of guilt for anyone convicted of battery on a person 65 or older, meaning a guilty verdict must result in a formal felony conviction.
The law also removes a defense that might otherwise seem intuitive. Prosecutors are not required to prove that a defendant knew the victim was 65 or older, only that the victim actually met that age threshold, according to the Morris Law Firm, P.A. That distinction matters for how the case could be prosecuted if Oxendine is located, since claiming ignorance of the alleged victim's age would not shield her from the enhanced felony charge.
Why Elder Protections Loom Large in Manatee County
The statute's focus on senior victims carries particular resonance locally. Residents aged 65 and older make up 29.4 percent of Manatee County's population, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, a far higher share than typical for the state or nation. Statewide, Florida had roughly 4.7 million residents 65 and older in 2022, about 21 percent of the population, with that number projected to climb to 5.9 million by 2030, the Florida Senate has reported, giving Florida the second-highest share of senior residents of any U.S. state.
Elder-advocacy researchers have also flagged how often such cases go unreported. The National Center on Elder Abuse estimates that only about 1 in 24 incidents of elder mistreatment is ever reported to law enforcement, according to Fresh Take Florida, a pattern researchers attribute in part to social isolation and fear of retaliation among elderly victims.
How the Charge Could Escalate
Battery on a senior is treated differently than more severe assaults under Florida law. If an assault on someone 65 or older involves a deadly weapon or causes great bodily harm, the charge is reclassified as aggravated battery, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison with a mandatory minimum three-year sentence, per Online Sunshine. There is no indication in the current case that the allegations against Oxendine rise to that level; she is wanted specifically on the lesser battery charge.
Oxendine's case is one of several the Manatee County Sheriff's Office has publicized through its Warrant Wednesday campaign, which the department uses to highlight active felony warrants and prompt tips from the community. The office frequently credits leads generated from these posts with helping deputies track down fugitives. Hoodline has previously covered other Warrant Wednesday cases, including searches for other individuals wanted on active felony warrants in the county.
Anyone with information on Oxendine's whereabouts can contact the Manatee County Sheriff's Office directly, or reach out anonymously through CrimeStoppers of Manatee County at 1-866-634-TIPS. Tipsters who remain anonymous can qualify for a cash reward of up to $3,000 if their information leads to an arrest or the execution of an active warrant. As with any active warrant, Oxendine has not been convicted of the allegation against her.
