A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was arrested Thursday and charged with having sex with a 15-year-girl he met while investigating a vehicle crash.
Christopher Michael Delrusso, 26, was charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a victim between the ages of 12 and 16 and transmitting information harmful to minors. He was booked into the Marion County Jail and released after posting $25,000 bond.
Marion County sheriff’s detectives started investigating the case after receiving a report that Delrusso was having a sexual relationship with the underage girl. Their investigation revealed that Delrusso met the girl while on the job and had stayed in touch with her after the crash investigation, having given her his phone number and telling her that if she needed someone to talk to, she could call him. Delrusso also allegedly came to the girl’s house to “see how she was doing” and told her she was “lucky to be alive,” the report says.
Delrusso also is accused of continuing to communicate with the girl via social media. When detectives examined her phone, they allegedly found sexually explicit videos of Delrusso he had sent to the girl, who also admitted to detectives that they had sexual intercourse, the report says.
Delrusso allegedly admitted to detectives that he had sent sexually explicit messages and videos to the girl. He also admitted to having “consensual” sexual intercourse with the girl in a wooded area near her residence, the report says.
Detectives are concerned that Delrusso may have more victims and are asking anyone with information regarding him to contact Detective Sutliff at (352) 368-3546.