St. Augustine Man Accused of Sexual Battery on Girl Under 16

A 27-year-old St. Augustine man was arrested early Monday morning and charged with lewd or lascivious battery on a child older than 12 and younger than 16 years old.

Investigators said they found the man and the victim asleep in the backseat of his car parked at the end of St. Johns Parkway about 2:30 a.m. Monday.

Deputies said the girl told them that she and the man had an ongoing sexual relationship for about three months. She said she would sneak out of the house and the two would go to the area to have sex several times during that time.

Detectives said the man admitted to having sex with the underage girl and was booked into the St. Johns County jail with bond set at $75,000.

Sexual battery, or rape, is a serious crime in the state of Florida that carries very severe consequences if you are convicted. When the alleged victim is under the age of 16, consent cannot be used as a defense. You could be facing many years behind bars, fines, and possibly lifetime registration as a sex offender. For this reason, it is important to be represented by a skilled sex crimes defense lawyer with a record of success in defending these cases.

Our Florida Sexual Battery Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you fight the sex crimes charges stacked against you. We can listen to your side of the story and apply the best defense strategy available for your unique situation. We will do everything in our power to fight for the best possible outcome on your behalf. Because the stakes are so high in sexual battery cases, we urge you to contact us as soon as possible. You can call us 24/7 at 866-608-5529 for a free consultation.