Hillsborough County deputies are asking the public for help finding a 57-year-old man wanted on four counts of lewd or lascivious battery, a second-degree felony under Florida law. Andre Bankston remains at large as of Wednesday, and investigators say they need tips from the community to track him down.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced the search as part of its weekly “Warrant Wednesday” social media push, according to HCSO. The agency, led by Sheriff Chad Chronister, says its account is not monitored around the clock, so anyone with urgent information is directed instead to call the department’s non-emergency line at 813-247-8200. HCSO has not publicly released details about the alleged victim, the date, or the location tied to the case.
Each of the four counts Bankston faces qualifies as a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000, per the Florida Senate’s statutory text on lewd or lascivious battery. Because he faces four separate counts, a conviction on all of them could carry a maximum cumulative sentence of up to 60 years in Florida state prison under state sentencing law tracked by Online Sunshine.
🚨Warrant Wednesday🚨
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) September 2, 2026
Detectives with #teamHCSO are asking for the public's help locating Andre Bankston, 57.
He is wanted for the following charges:
▪ Lewd or Lascivious Battery (Engage)(4x)
If you have any information on his current whereabouts, detectives ask that you… pic.twitter.com/sQc9j1hliJ
No Legal Defense for Misjudging a Victim's Age
Florida statute is notably strict when it comes to this charge: a defendant cannot claim ignorance of a victim’s age, point to a victim’s misrepresentation of their age, or argue a belief that the victim was older as a defense against lewd or lascivious battery allegations, according to the Florida Senate’s statutory language. That strict-liability standard means prosecutors do not need to prove a suspect knew a victim was underage in order to secure a conviction.
A conviction would also carry consequences well beyond prison time. Florida law mandates lifelong sex offender registration for anyone convicted of lewd or lascivious battery, along with specialized sex offender probation terms after release, according to the Sammis Law Firm’s summary of the statute.
Part of a Broader Local Crackdown
The search for Bankston comes weeks after Hillsborough County deputies wrapped up “Operation Relentless Summer,” a two-month joint operation targeting sexual predators, human trafficking, and online child exploitation that resulted in 116 arrests in August, as reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Sex offense cases in Hillsborough County are typically investigated by specialized detectives within HCSO’s Special Victims Unit and Sexual Predator Unit, the sheriff’s office has said.
The sheriff’s office has used its Warrant Wednesday campaign to generate tips before with real results. In June 2021, a tip generated through Crime Stoppers led to the multi-state capture of a wanted child sex crime suspect in Michigan, according to HCSO’s own records of the program’s history.
Anyone with information on Bankston’s whereabouts can call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200. Tipsters can also remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), where leads resulting in an arrest may be eligible for cash rewards of up to $3,000 or $5,000, per Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay.
HCSO describes its mission as working to protect and defend the community while preserving the rights and dignity of all. As with any active arrest warrant, the charges against Bankston represent an unproven allegation by law enforcement, and he remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
