[PHOTO CREDIT: iStock / chameleonseye]
[Original Publish Date: 10/21/19]
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UMATILLA, Florida – A 19 year-old man is facing charges after police say they found him drinking in Cadwell Park and having sex with a teenage girl.
According to an arrest affidavit, Umatilla Police responded to a call of two juveniles drinking in the park and going into a bathroom together around 11 a.m. Thursday. An officer went to the men’s bathroom and observed a teenaged white female on the floor of a stall with Edward Arthur Cook Jr., of Umatilla, on top of her, both naked from the waist down. Police ordered the pair out of the stall and saw two beer cans, about half-full and cold to the touch. Two more beers were found in the man’s backpack.
Police questioned Cook, who gave a false date of birth and advised he was 17 years old, according to the affidavit. Upon further investigation, police found Cook was actually 19 years old. The female juvenile, who was not identified, was born in 2005, making her either 13 or 14 years old.
Cook told police he met the girl through a mutual friend and thought she was 15. They made plans to meet at Cadwell Park and said he found the four beers in the middle of the road, according to the affidavit. They didn’t want to drink in front of children playing at the park, so they went into the bathroom to drink and watch YouTube. They started touching each other and that led to sex, the affidavit states. (The girl’s father told police he wishes to pursue criminal prosecution against Cook.)
Cook was charged with lewd and lascivious battery, giving false information to a law enforcement officer and possession alcohol by a person under 21 years of age. He has since bonded out of the Lake County Jail.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
