News of the Nature Coast of Florida

A Crystal River man was charged on Feb. 9 with the sexual battery of a 10-year-old girl.

Arrested was Stephen Joseph Haecker, 24. The victim, the Sheriff's Office says, was known to Haecker.

According to the arrest report, a CCSO detective was made aware of a pending sex offense investigation at one of the county's elementary schools. The deputy on scene at the school told the detective what the girl had said, and that the girl named Haecker as the offender.

The girl was taken to Jessie's Place, examined and questioned. She told members of the CCSO Child Protection Team that the incidents began on Jan. 28 and continued through Feb. 8. She also alleged the incidents involved fondling, oral and other sex acts.

Haecker was questioned at the CCSO Emergency Operations Center in Lecanto. After being read his rights, he admitted to performing sex acts on the girl to a CCSO detective, and described the acts. After his interview, Haecker was arrested and taken to the county jail, where he was charged with sexual battery.

Bond was set at none.