Post by WaTcHeR on May 20, 2006 13:21:21 GMT -5
05/20/2006 - A former Orlando police officer was arrested this week for reportedly molesting a girl, now 8, he baby sat for three years, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday.
Thomas Louis Reynolds, 61, of 7314 SW 18th Place in Gainesville was arrested on a charge of lewd and lascivious battery on a child in connection to the alleged abuse beginning when the girl was 4 years old, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Reynolds, who is married, baby sat several other children in the neighborhood over the years, said Sgt. Keith Faulk, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office. It is unknown if there are other victims, Faulk said.
In summer 2002, Reynolds reportedly approached the girl's family when they were having financial trouble and offered to baby sit the girl to help them out, Faulk said.
The girl told deputies that Reynolds molested her over the next three years until July 2005. The girl reported the abuse to her mother in November and deputies filed a sworn complaint with the State Attorney's Office in December charging Reynolds with capital sexual battery, Faulk said.
The victim gave deputies a detailed description of the alleged incidents down to a distinguishing mole on Reynolds' genitalia, Faulk said. The girl's testimony prompted deputies to obtain a search warrant to examine Reynolds' body Tuesday, Faulk said.
When deputies tried to examine Reynolds to locate the mole, he told them, "I had a mole, but I had it removed." Then deputies asked him where it was located he said, "I can't tell you; I have to protect myself."
Faulk said the kids and neighbors seemed to flock to Reynolds.
"He was a grandfatherly type figure," Faulk said.
Reynolds retired in 1991 after 20 years of service, department officials confirmed Wednesday.
He was being held at the Alachua County jail on a $100,000 bond Wednesday evening.
Thomas Louis Reynolds, 61, of 7314 SW 18th Place in Gainesville was arrested on a charge of lewd and lascivious battery on a child in connection to the alleged abuse beginning when the girl was 4 years old, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Reynolds, who is married, baby sat several other children in the neighborhood over the years, said Sgt. Keith Faulk, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office. It is unknown if there are other victims, Faulk said.
In summer 2002, Reynolds reportedly approached the girl's family when they were having financial trouble and offered to baby sit the girl to help them out, Faulk said.
The girl told deputies that Reynolds molested her over the next three years until July 2005. The girl reported the abuse to her mother in November and deputies filed a sworn complaint with the State Attorney's Office in December charging Reynolds with capital sexual battery, Faulk said.
The victim gave deputies a detailed description of the alleged incidents down to a distinguishing mole on Reynolds' genitalia, Faulk said. The girl's testimony prompted deputies to obtain a search warrant to examine Reynolds' body Tuesday, Faulk said.
When deputies tried to examine Reynolds to locate the mole, he told them, "I had a mole, but I had it removed." Then deputies asked him where it was located he said, "I can't tell you; I have to protect myself."
Faulk said the kids and neighbors seemed to flock to Reynolds.
"He was a grandfatherly type figure," Faulk said.
Reynolds retired in 1991 after 20 years of service, department officials confirmed Wednesday.
He was being held at the Alachua County jail on a $100,000 bond Wednesday evening.