A 58-year-old man from Belleview is facing several felony charges after he was accused of inappropriately touching a young girl and paying her $100 to have sex with him when she was 14 years old.
On Saturday, August 17, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy made contact with the female victim who is now 16 years old. She claimed that a man, identified as 58-year-old Robert Michael Pantley, Jr., had sexually battered her several years ago, according to the arrest report.
During an interview conducted at the Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection, the victim stated that Pantley “paid her for sexual intercourse” when she was 14 years old. The report stated that the victim further alleged that Pantley “held her down and fingered her” when she was 8 years old.
Approximately two years ago, the victim stated that she was paid $5 a day to walk Pantley’s dog. At the end of the week, she advised that she would go to Pantley’s home to collect the money owed to her, according to the report.
During one instance, the victim recalled Pantley being “obviously drunk,” and he asked her if she wanted to “make money.” When she said “yes,” Pantley allegedly led her into his bedroom and told her that he would give her $100 if she had sex with him.
The report stated that the victim provided a detailed description to investigators of an alleged sexual encounter with Pantley. She stated that he wore a condom, and he eventually “stopped” and told her that he was “too drunk.” He then allegedly handed her an envelope filled with $100 in cash, along with the additional money owed for walking the dog.
The victim advised that she was 14 years old at the time of the alleged sexual encounter with Pantley.
According to the victim’s statement, Pantley also allegedly sexually battered her in his living room when she was 8 years old. She recalled sitting on Pantley’s lap when he allegedly “held her down” and “got his hand to the places he was not supposed to touch.”
The victim said that Pantley eventually stopped and let go of her. While speaking with investigators, she indicated that she was unsure if Pantley was “drunk” during the incident.
A female witness told law enforcement that upon learning about the alleged incidents from the victim, the witness confronted Pantley. According to the witness, Pantley initially denied the allegations but “ultimately admitted to it.”
MCSO deputies located Pantley at a Winn-Dixie in Belleview, and he was detained in handcuffs and transported to the sheriff’s office for questioning. After being read his Miranda rights, he initially denied the allegations.
The report stated that during the post-Miranda interview, Pantley eventually admitted to “attempting to have consensual sex” with the victim when she was 14 years old. He claimed that he was unable to “complete the act” due to his level of intoxication, and he advised that he paid the victim $100 after the sexual encounter.
When confronted about the allegations that he sexually battered the victim when she was 8 years old, Pantley allegedly admitted to inappropriately touching the victim. He told investigators that he “believed it was consensual” and occurred when the victim was “13 to 14,” according to the report.
An MCSO deputy noted in the report that Pantley blamed the incidents with the victim on his “alcohol problem” and he further stated that alcohol “turns him into another person.”
Pantley was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail on Tuesday, September 24, where he is currently being held without bond. He is being charged with human trafficking, lewd and lascivious battery, and capital sexual battery.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.