Ocala Man Arrested for Allegedly Molesting Child

A man accused of molesting a juvenile for a number of years was arrested Tuesday for sexual battery on a person under 12.

In December 2013, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office received a report that the accused, a 29-year-old man, had sexually battered a girl for years.

The girl, who is now 15, was apparently interviewed at the Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection a few days after the report was made and accused the man of molesting her at least two or three times a week for the past six or seven years, according to a MCSO report.

A detective allegedly made contact twice with the man, who apparently agreed to come to the Sheriff’s Office for an interview but never showed up.

In May, the man did come in for an interview and denied the allegations. Police claim he agreed to take a polygraph examination, which he reportedly failed. Following the examination, he was questioned again about the alleged incidents, and again denied the girl’s version of events.

On Monday, the State Attorney’s Office officials were notified about the case, and issued a warrant for the man’s arrest. He was picked up at an Ocala apartment and was taken to the Marion County Jail.

The way that sex crimes are investigated and prosecuted in Florida is quite different than other serious criminal offenses. These crimes are so intensely hated by the public that even the mere allegation of any wrongdoing often earns the accused a guilty label despite the fact that the criminal justice system prides itself on the notion that the accused is innocent until proven guilty.

When it comes to sex crimes cases, one tool that police tend to use to determine the validity of an allegation is the polygraph. In many situations, police will request that the accused take a polygraph in order to “clear their name.” However, not everyone is an ideal candidate when it comes to taking a polygraph test for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, the results of a polygraph test can be the deciding factor when it comes to formal charges being brought against a suspect.

Once you agree to a polygraph test, law enforcement officials immediately know your test results. Furthermore, anything you say while the test is being administered, including your body language, can be used against you later in court. Even if you pass a polygraph, the test results could still be officially classified as “inconclusive,” which allows police to proceed with an investigation against you. And as this case shows, if you fail, this could immediately result in your arrest.

If you have been accused of or placed under investigation for sexual battery or any other sex crime in Ocala or throughout the state of Florida, please call a Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton today at 352-369-5334 or statewide and toll-free at 866-608-5529. Your initial consultation is free and strictly confidential. While we cannot guarantee the outcome of your case, we can make sure your rights are protected during an investigation and help you apply the most effective defence strategies in order to minimize the chances of an arrest, prosecution or the consequences of a conviction.