Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Crime Against Children Unit
Arnulfo Elias (Arrested)
DOB: 04/28/1992
Address: 6030 150th Avenue N, Lot 40, Largo
Arrested for lewd and lascivious battery on a minor
The victim is a 14 year-old minor who is known to the suspect. Per Florida Statute 119.071(2)(h)1, no further information will be released that would tend to identify the victim.
What:
Detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested a Largo man for lewd and lascivious battery on a 14 year-old female after he engaged her in sexual activity multiple times over a period of nearly a year.
When:
The suspect was arrested on August 14, 2013.
The crime occurred from about February 23, 2012 to about January 26, 2013.
Where:
The crime occurred at a private residence in unincorporated Largo.
Why/How:
According to detectives, the victim disclosed to an adult that the suspect had engaged her in sexual activity. The adult in turn reported it to the Sheriff’s Office on June 5th, 2013 and the Crimes Against Children Unit began its investigation.
According to detectives, the suspect and the victim became acquainted through social media, specifically Facebook. Through their investigation, detectives determined that the suspect identified as 21-year-old Arnulfo Elias engaged the victim in sexual activity 20 to 30 times from February 23, 2012 to January 26, 2013.
Elias was interviewed at the Sheriff’s Administration Building on the evening of August 14th, 2013. He admitted to the crime. Elias was arrested for lewd and lascivious battery and was subsequently transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
The investigation continues.
