A Winter Haven businessman is moving closer to trial in a battery case involving allegations a young woman was groped while working at a downtown Winter Haven establishment.
James Franklin Knight has entered a not guilty plea in connection with the Oct. 30, 2025 incident, according to Polk County court records. A pretrial conference is scheduled for May 12 as the case advances.
According to a Winter Haven Police Department arrest affidavit, Knight was at a downtown Winter Haven establishment when he allegedly groped a female server by grabbing her breast without consent.
Investigators said the alleged incident was captured on video and collected as evidence. According to the affidavit, a coworker also witnessed the incident, and the woman later identified Knight in a photo lineup.
In the video, investigators say a man, identified as Knight, appears to grab and squeeze the young woman’s right breast. The video also appears to show the woman recoil and immediately place her arm over her chest.
Brian Haas, State Attorney for the Tenth, Judicial Circuit through assistant state attorney Colin Nakagawa subsequently filed formal charges, and court records show the case has progressed through arraignment and multiple pretrial hearings as it moves toward a potential trial.
Knight is listed as a vice president at an insurance company, according to publicly available professional information.
The May 12 pretrial conference is the next scheduled court date in front of judge Kevin M. Kohl.
Knight has denied the allegation through his not guilty plea. He was charged by affidavit, and no mugshot is currently available.
Editor’s Note: The Daily Ridge has received information alleging similar incidents at other establishments in Winter Haven; however, we have not independently verified those claims and are not aware of any additional criminal or civil cases, either pending or previously filed. If you believe you have been a victim of a crime, we encourage you to contact the Winter Haven Police Department or the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. As with all criminal cases, the charge remains an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
