A Central Florida man was arrested and facing 56 felony charges for an ongoing crimes against a child.
The Special Victims Unit from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested the Bartow man this month. According to local law enforcement, the crimes against the child were over the span of a year-and-a-half.
The Central Florida arrested followed the Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigation into allegations of ongoing sexual battery against a child. The investigation began after the victim told a school guidance counselor about the abuse, and the counselor in turn notified the PCSO’s School Resource Deputy assigned to the school.
According to the victim’s allegations, the suspect had molested, performed oral sex, and digitally penetrated the victim, starting about a year-and-a-half ago, with the most recent occurrence being within a week of the report, according to PCSO.
During an interview with detectives, the suspect provided a detailed account of his abuse of the victim. According to the arrest affidavit, the suspect “stated that he knew he was wrong and continued the conduct.” According to PCSO, the suspect also confessed that all of the incidents occurred at his home.
According to local law enforcement, 37-year-old Joel Arias was arrested and taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and charged with: – Lewd Molestation by Adult to a Juvenile Victim under 12 (10 counts), Lewd Molestation by Adult to a Juvenile Victim over 12 (10 counts), Sexual Battery by Adult to a Juvenile over 12 (15 counts), Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, Juvenile Victim over 12 (10 counts), Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition (10 counts), and Battery of a Juvenile.
“As it stands now, the young victim appears to be the only person Joel Arias has abused,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “But one victim is one too many, and thanks to the thorough work of my detectives and the crimes they charged him with, Joel Arias will likely spend the rest of his life in prison, never able to do any harm another child.”
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