Fire Captain Arrested For Having Sex With Minor
A Polk County Fire Captain was arrested in November after allegedly having sex with a minor in early 2022. It is believed that the sexual activity occurred at the Lake Maude Nature Park in Winter Haven sometime in April 2022.
On November 8, Winter Haven police responded to a case of sexual battery reported by the minor. The victim was in the Polk Fire Rescue Cadet Program. The program required cadets to contact a fire station of their choice and obtain approval from the captain to complete a ride-along. The cadet chose Station 37, where she worked alongside the fire captain.
The victim stated that she and the fire captain would communicate via TikTok and discuss video games. The captain asked the girl for her phone number and she provided it to him. That was when the two began texting.
Initially, they would text about video games. That changed in May, when the fire captain made arrangements for the two to meet at the Lakeland Square Mall to watch the movie “Doctor Strange.”
On May 26, the two drove separately to the mall and watched the movie together. They then ate at Chipotle and then went to the iPanic Escape Room. A photo of the two was posted on the company’s Facebook page.
While there was no sexual conduct between the two while at the mall, the text messages later became more sexual in nature. Two days later, the two met at a local Applebee’s. The girl drove her car and parked it in the restaurant parking lot. The fire captain then picked her up and they rode together to Lake Maude Nature Park.
The fire captain parked his truck and the two engaged in sexual intercourse. Two similar incidents allegedly occurred at a later date.
On November 8, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office contacted the fire captain at his home. He denied hanging out with the minor outside of the station, but stated that the two did many ride-alongs together.
However, the girl provided police with 166 screenshots of text messages between the two. The fire captain has been charged with one count of unlawful sex with a minor and one count of traveling to meet a minor.
Contact a Legal Professional for Help
The penalties for sex offenses in Florida are harsh, even if the minor is close to adulthood. Seek legal help from a Florida minor sex offense lawyer from the Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit. We have the knowledge, compassion, and dedication to help you get the best outcome possible. Schedule a consultation today by filling out the online form or calling (352) 505-1799.
Source:
wfla.com/news/polk-county-fire-captain-arrested-for-allegedly-having-sex-with-minor-fire-rescue-cadet/