According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began Wednesday after the victim told a school guidance counselor about the abuse. The counselor then notified the PCSO School Resource Deputy.
Detectives interviewed the suspect, identified as Joel Arias, 37, who provided a detailed account of his abuse of the victim, PCSO said.
According to the arrest affidavit, Arias “stated that he knew he was wrong and continued the conduct.” He also confessed that all of the incidents occurred at his home.
Arias was arrested on the following charges:
- 10 counts of lewd molestation by an adult to a juvenile victim under 12
- 10 counts of lewd molestation by an adult to a juvenile victim over 12
- 15 counts of sexual battery by an adult to a juvenile over 12
- 10 counts of lewd or lascivious molestation, juvenile victim over 12
- 10 counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition
- Battery of a juvenile
“As it stands now, the young victim appears to be the only person Joel Arias has abused,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. “But one victim is one too many, and thanks to the thorough work of my detectives and the crimes they charged him with, Joel Arias will likely spend the rest of his life in prison, never able to do any harm [to] another child.”