A Marion County Fire Rescue firefighter is behind bars after he was accused of molesting a child under the age of 12.
On Friday morning, 57-year-old Murrel Dempsey Liverman, Jr. was arrested by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. He is being charged with lewd and lascivious molestation by a person 18 years or older on a victim less than 12 years of age.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, detectives began investigating Liverman after an anonymous tip referenced possible abuse between Liverman and the victim.
During an interview, the victim told detectives that the abuse began approximately a year earlier. According to the victim’s statement, Liverman allegedly would “put his hands down the victim’s pants” when they were alone.
A warrant was issued for Liverman’s arrest on Wednesday. According to PCSO, detectives decided that the “safest way to bring (Liverman) into custody” was to ask him to stop by the sheriff’s office to interview for a reserve position.
When Liverman arrived at the sheriff’s office to follow up with an application to work as a reserve member, he was placed under arrest and transported to Putnam County Jail.
Liverman is currently being held at the jail on a $250,000 bond.
“Due to the nature of the crime the sheriff’s office is not (releasing) any information that could identify the victim,” stated the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office in a social media post on Friday afternoon.
The sheriff’s office added that the investigation is ongoing.