A registered sex offender living in Polk County is facing new charges after allegedly molesting two children, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.
Detectives began investigating 58-year-old Jessie Valdez, of Bartow after a victim told her parents that Valdez touched her private parts on multiple occasions both over and under her clothing.
Valdez was convicted in Hardee County in 1991 for sexual offenses against a child.
The allegations date back to when the victim was as young as seven years old and continued for years, including times in Valdez’s vehicle while he played pornographic movies and exposed himself to her, the sheriff’s office said.
The investigation uncovered another victim, who told detectives Valdez touched her numerous times under her clothing. When confronted by the family members, Valdez reportedly made incriminating statements and even apologized for the abuse.
After his arrest, Valdez told his girlfriend to “sell everything because she was probably not going to see him for a long time,” the sheriff’s office reports.
Valdez refused to cooperate with detectives and was booked into the Polk County Jail.
He faces charges of lewd molestation of a victim under 12, lewd and lascivious molestation, and lewd and lascivious exhibition.
“It takes a lot of courage for a young child, a victim of a sex crime, to come forward and we are so proud of these children for doing just that,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “We need to know if there are any other victims of this pedophile out there. Please contact us if you have any information about Jessie Valdez sexually abusing children.”
The investigation is ongoing and further charges could be brought against Valdez pending the examination of his cell phone.