SEMINOLE, Fla. — A 19-year-old Seminole woman who allegedly sexually battered a six-year-old girl she was babysitting on multiple occasions was arrested Monday, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
- Erica Charles, 19, facing multiple charges
- Detectives believe there could be other victims
- More Pinellas County stories
Detectives said they began investigating Erica Charles, 19, on Oct. 4 after the Florida Department of Children and Families received a report alleging sexual abuse involving the victim. The incidents allegedly occurred in August and September while Charles was babysitting the victim at her home.
Detectives said Charles showed the victim pornographic videos on her mobile phone and directed the victim to perform a sex act on her. Charles also allegedly took the victim's clothes off and on multiple occasions sexually battered her.
When interviewed by detectives, Charles admitted to the charges.
Erica Charles (Courtesy: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office)
Neighbor: "This really hits home"
Seminole resident Charles Poulsen called the incident "gut-wrenching" because one of his children is friends with the victim.
“I have three daughters, two are nine and one is seven, so yeah, this really hits home,” said Poulsen.
Poulsen went on to say he heard about the case earlier Wednesday before he figured out his family had a personal connection to the victim.
“I was leaving the office and I get a little pop-up on my phone of the news article of this victim situation," he explained. "Seminole…I live in Seminole. And then I get home and my wife’s like, ‘You have to look at this arrest record’ and poof! There’s this address a couple numbers down from mine."
"It's just sad," Poulsen added. "You can’t prepare for that as a parent, you can’t prepare for that as a community, and you sure as heck can’t prepare for that as a recipient.”
Detectives believe there may have been additional victims. They are requesting the public to come forward with any information regarding inappropriate contact Charles could have had with other children.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detective Pione or Detective Geoghegan with the Crimes Against Children Unit at 727-582-6200.