TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — A man is facing multiple child sex abuse charges after investigators say he admitted to sexually abusing a child relative for years.
Darrell Mortier, 64, was arrested on Monday on seven counts related to the sexual abuse of a child.
According to an arrest report, a 15-year-old victim came forward on Monday and told an Leon County School Resource Deputy that he was being sexually abused by a relative. The victim disclosed that the abuse started when he was in 3rd grade and continued until his 9th grade year of high school.
The day before reporting the abuse, the victim said Mortier approached him and stated "the acts have been on his mind and he wanted to do it again after school the next day." Ultimately, documents say the victim chose the report the abuse to school staff before anything else transpired.
After interviewing the victim, the Leon County Sheriff's office went to Mortier's house to interview him.
When they spoke, documents say Mortier told deputies that he was "sexually abused as a child by his father."
"[Mortier] initially did not admit to the sex acts, but later stated [the victim] became curious because [Mortier] is a nudist and would walk around the house naked with [the victim] present," the arrest report read.
He told investigators that the victim initiated contact but admitted that sex acts with the victim continued up until about a year ago. When asked by investigators if he knew this was wrong, Mortier said he initially knew what he was doing as wrong, but stated that, "[the victim] should have talked to him if he had a problem instead of telling law enforcement."
Based on the information, Mortier was charged with one count of sexual battery (victim less than 12), one count of sexual battery (victim over 12 but less than 16), one count of sexual battery familial custodial authority (victim over 12), one count of lewd and lascivious molestation (victim under 12), one count of lewd and lascivious molestation (victim over 12), and displaying material harmful to a minor.
As of Tuesday, he remains in jail without bond.
