MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A teenage boy was arrested after a 91-year-old woman was attacked in her house last week, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
In a release, deputies said that the woman was awoken in her home around midnight on Sunday, June 9.
At the time, she reportedly found someone sneaking through her home, and she was beaten and sexually battered, the release states.
The victim was later taken to the hospital, where she told detectives that the suspect had “pounced” on her, punching her in the face, according to the MCSO.
An arrest affidavit shows that the woman was then sexually battered before the suspect fled.
Following an investigation, deputies announced on Monday that they arrested 14-year-old Jesse Stone.
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“The victim later explained that the day before the incident, a neighborhood youth named ‘Randy John’ (later identified as defendant Jesse Stone) came over to her house and talked with her,” the affidavit reads. “She explained that it’s been a while since the defendant stopped by to talk with her, but when he was younger, he used to do it more often. She described the defendant as a ‘good’ boy but that she didn’t know anything about the other people he hangs out with.”
According to the sheriff’s office, Stone had approached detectives as they canvassed the area later that same day, telling them that a neighbor had “found something” on surveillance footage that the neighbor wanted the detectives to see.
Upon reviewing the footage, detectives discovered a “figure” — who appeared to look similar to Stone — jogging past the night prior, the affidavit states.
Stone initially denied that the figure was him, though DNA evidence indicated his involvement in the attack.
On June 13, detectives said they found Stone at North Marion High School, and he was taken in for questioning.
During the interview, Stone admitted to entering the woman’s home to watch pornography before going into her bedroom and attacking her, detectives explained.
The MCSO announced that Stone was arrested and taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice. He faces charges of sexual battery and burglary.
“It came as a shock that any individual would commit such an act on a 91-year-old, but it is truly disturbing when we see the young age of the arrestee,” Sheriff Billy Woods said. “Although I firmly believe he should be held accountable for his crime, as a father, my compassion goes out to his family. Hopefully, his arrest will lead to getting him help that prevents any further such acts.”
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