Detectives arrested a Haines City man Tuesday on child molestation charges.
According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, detectives started investigating Benson Lee Roberts, 67, after a child was seen getting out of his truck on Sunday. The detectives said they learned Roberts had taken the child to a local store without the parent's knowledge or permission.
Detectives said they later learned Roberts had taken two children to the same store the day before, and that both times were without the parents' knowledge or permission.
Roberts owns a recreational vehicle, and detectives said that approximately 50 times over the past few years, he invited three neighborhood children to come into the RV without other adults present.
Detectives said Robert initially told them he invited the children to watch television and have snacks inside the RV. However, detectives said two of the children said Roberts touched their genital areas on different occasions while inside Roberts' truck or RV.
Roberts then told detectives he had touched one girl on her genital area over her clothes "on accident," but then later confessed to touching her four or five times during separate visits, detectives said.
Detectives said Roberts also confessed to touching another victim in her genital area over her clothes at least once, and admitted to taking two children to a store without their parents' knowledge.
Neighbors say they've seen Roberts' handing out candy to kids.
"I see a lot of kids, they get candy, snacks and he was talking with the kids,” said Felicitas Hernandez, neighbor.
Roberts was booked into the Polk County Jail. He is facing four counts of interfering with the custody of a minor, five counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and one count of lewd molestation.