The Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 38-year-old Ocala man after he was accused of committing sexual battery on a girl who is 12 years of age or younger.
On Wednesday, March 1, Marion County Sheriff’s Office detectives began investigating Robert Angel Santiago after the Florida Department of Children and Families received a report alleging that he had molested a child, according to the arrest report.
MCSO detectives spoke with the juvenile victim who advised that the incidents began in Santiago’s bedroom when she was in the second grade. She stated that Santiago showed her a video on his cellphone of a woman performing oral sex on a man, and Santiago instructed her to “repeat” what was on the video, according to the MCSO report.
The victim told detectives that she was sexually molested by Santiago numerous times over the past year and a half. The MCSO report stated that the victim described several incidents with Santiago involving oral sex, and she told investigators that Santiago also raped her “multiple times.”
On Wednesday, March 22, MCSO deputies attempted to contact Santiago at his last known residence and were unable to locate him. The residence appeared vacant and neighbors advised that Santiago had moved, according to the MCSO report.
A warrant was issued for Santiago’s arrest, and he was located and arrested on Saturday, March 25. He was transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $110,000 bond.
Santiago is facing felony charges for sexual assault by an adult on a victim under 12 years of age (four counts) and soliciting a sexual battery act by a custodian on a victim under 18 years of age (one count).
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25, according to jail records.