An 86-year-old Fort McCoy man has been arrested and charged with capital sexual battery in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a young girl while she was under his care for several years throughout the 1970s.
On Tuesday, June 18, Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Charles Hill after a female victim alleged that he had sexually abused her decades earlier when she was between the ages of 8 and 15, according to the arrest report.
During an interview with law enforcement, the victim described Hill as “controlling,” and she stated that Hill would often “threaten” and “physically abuse” her and her sibling throughout their childhood.
The victim described an alleged incident when she was home alone with Hill and her sibling. She stated she had nightmares that night after watching a scary movie, and Hill crawled into bed with her. She advised that when she woke up, Hill was “on top of her and his (penis) was inside of her,” according to the report.
The victim stated that Hill told her the above incident was “how he shows her love” and that “it would be their secret.” An MCSO corporal noted in the report that during the interview, the victim described other incidents of sexual abuse that allegedly occurred on a small set of steps in the middle of the house.
According to the victim’s statement, Hill would “place her on the step,” use Vaseline to “get her wet,” and then he would allegedly have sex with her. The victim alleged that this occurred multiple times.
In addition, the victim alleged that Hill entered her bedroom at night on multiple occasions when she was between 11 and 13 years old. During these instances, he allegedly reached under her nightgown and rubbed her with his hands in a sexual manner.
The victim also claimed that Hill would take her swimming in a creek near the residence, where he would allegedly have sex with her in the water. During several hunting trips in the Ocala National Forest, the victim further alleged that Hill had sex with her on the ground.
In 1988, the victim stated that she confronted Hill about the sexual abuse and he “admitted to it.” He then allegedly told her that she “liked it” and that it was “his way of showing her that he loved her,” according to the report.
The victim told law enforcement that she informed her mother about the sexual abuse. She added that her sibling and one of her relatives are also aware of the allegations against Hill.
On Tuesday, June 18, MCSO detectives arrived at Hill’s home and made contact with the victim’s mother. She described Hill as being “mean” and “not a good person,” and she claimed that she had been “emotionally and verbally abused” by him as well, according to the report.
The victim’s mother stated that she had learned of her daughter’s allegations against Hill “approximately two years ago.” The report stated that the victim’s mother was “visibly upset” and cried while speaking with the detectives.
The report stated that when Hill returned to the residence later that day, he was detained in handcuffs. After being read his Miranda rights, Hill admitted to taking the victim hunting and fishing when she was a child, as well as swimming in the creek near their residence, which corroborated the victim’s statement.
During the post-Miranda interview, Hill admitted to telling the victim that her allegations were true during a prior conversation. However, Hill claimed that he had admitted this to the victim in an attempt to “reunite” with her, since they were estranged, according to the report.
Hill continued to deny the allegations and stated that the victim was “stretching the truth.” He refused to further discuss the incident, and he was placed under arrest and transported to Marion County Jail.
Hill is currently being held at the jail without bond, and he is being charged with capital sexual battery, which is a felony.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.