Major Crimes detectives from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 34-year-old man Wednesday on charges of sexual battery involving juveniles.
Keith Mitchell Turner was taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was charged with sexual battery, two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation and lewd or lascivious exhibition. He is being held on no bond.
In early August, the sheriff’s office received a report that a victim had disclosed the molestation in a letter to a family member. The abuse allegedly started in 2012 when the victim was 7-8 years old, a sheriff’s office report states.
During the course of an ensuing investigation, it was determined that there could be a second juvenile victim. Sheriff’s detectives spoke with that juvenile and confirmed that Turner allegedly had committed crimes of a sexual nature against that victim as well, the report says.
Sheriff’s detectives believe there could be other victims. Anyone who believes they may be a victim or knows someone who is a potential victim is asked to call Detective Ian Simpson at (352) 368-3586.