TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A man wanted for molesting a 9-year-old child is finally behind bars in Leon County after being on the run for two years.
Devon Lee, 25, was taken into custody by the Leon County Sheriff's Office on Saturday.
In September 2016, deputies responded to White Hill Lane in response to an attempted suicide. When deputies arrived on scene, they spoke with Lee, who had made the suicide attempt. Responding deputies ultimately placed him into protective custody under the Baker Act.
While on scene, deputies spoke with the victim's parents, who said Lee made the victim feel uncomfortable. When asked to elaborate, the victim's parents said the victim had told them that Lee kissed the victim and "stuck his tongue in [the victim's] mouth."
The victim's parents told investigators they believed Lee tried to commit suicide because he was confronted about the incident.
While interviewing Lee at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, he told deputies he hugged and kissed all of the children when he first got into town from North Carolina.
When asked if he tried to prolong any of the kisses, he stated "No! I ain't no pervert." Lee then refused to talk to deputies any further.
A couple days later, deputies were able to speak with the victim who said Lee arrived at the Tallahassee home from North Carolina and immediately began drinking heavily, becoming extremely intoxicated.
According to court documents, Lee came into the living room and asked if the victim could keep a secret and took the victim into a bedroom.
The victim told deputies that once in the bedroom, he grabbed the victim on the shoulders and kissed the victim on the mouth. Court documents state Lee let go of the victim once the victim told him to stop.
The victim said that when someone opened the door, it startled Lee, at which point the victim ran out of the bedroom and told a parent.
Court documents say one of the victim's parents stated Lee had a substance abuse issue and came to Tallahassee in an attempt to regain control of his life. They said he strongly denied doing anything inappropriate with the victim.
After Lee was released from TMH, he went back to North Carolina and was on the run for a little over two years before being taken into custody.
Based on the evidence, he is being charged with intentionally touching a child under 16 years of age in a lewd or lascivious manner. He was taken to the Leon County Detention Center where his bond has been set at $10,000.
