GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — A Clay County Sheriff's deputy is facing charges of sexual battery after a 12-year-old girl said he inappropriately touched her more than once.
The sheriff's office arrested Deputy Paul Mauricio Thursday morning, Sheriff Michelle Cook announced in a news conference at the Clay County Jail in Green Cove Springs.
"It's always disappointing when a deputy tarnishes the badge, but we have so many more who remain committed to honoring their oath to protect and serve our community by holding criminals accountable even if that criminal holds a badge," Cook said.
On Tuesday, April 12, at 9:30 p.m., CCSO received a call about a sexual battery that day. Deputies met with a woman who said her daughter came into her bedroom crying and told her about inappropriate sexual contact from earlier that day, saying that it was not the first time it happened. According to the arrest report, the victim said it happened "more times than she could remember."
During an interview with the alleged victim Wednesday morning, she detailed a pattern of sexual abuse incidents.
The sheriff commended the victim for coming forward and is working with the family and victim advocates. Investigators said Mauricio and the alleged victim know each other but did not disclose their relationship in order to protect the victim's identity.
The arrest report said Mauricio confessed to the allegations, and said that he had made a "big mistake."
Mauricio was charged with capital sexual battery for incidents occurring with the victim was under 12 years old, and custodial battery for incidents when the victim was over 12, according to the sheriff's office.
During his first appearance Thursday morning, prosecutors said one of the counts carries a possible life sentence and that Mauricio is not eligible for bond. Mauricio could be seen shaking his head when the prosecutor spoke.
The judge ordered no contact with Mauricio's alleged victim or any other minors.
"You understand that you have the right to remain silent and probably should use that," the judge said.
The sheriff's office issued an emergency suspension during the investigation. Under a safety plan, Mauricio is not allowed to contact the alleged victim.
Mauricio was employed at CCSO for eight years as a patrol deputy. He is being held on no bond.
According to a previous social media post from sheriff's office, Mauricio was a Navy veteran of 20 years.
Mauricio is due to appear in court again on May 10 at 9 a.m.
Stacy Vaughan, Vice President of Programs at the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, also commended the victim for coming forward. She said children are sexually abused by someone they know in almost 70 percent of cases.
“The first and most important thing that we as adults need to be aware of is that anyone can abuse a child," she said. "We can’t think on our relationship with them or what they do or what their profession is or their position in our community or in our family, that the potential doesn’t exist for them to abuse a child," she said.
"I think as a society we have to become more engaged everyone has to become more engaged," Vaughan said.
Vaughan said look for subtle signs that someone may be grooming a child, like spending more time alone with the child, showing them more attention, or violating their boundaries.