Palm Coast man charged in sex case spanning 2 years involving girls at group home
A Palm Coast utility worker was arrested after he admitted to having sexual relations with girls at a group home, according to a press release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Peter James Strickland, 32, was soliciting sex acts from girls possibly as young as 13 years old and up to 17, according to the release. Strickland would entice them by offering them items of value in exchange for the sexual activity, which he would video record, the release stated. The girls were living at a group home in Palm Coast, according to the release.
Strickland was charged with unlawful sexual activity with certain minors, a second-degree felony. He was being held at the Flagler County jail on a $100,000 bond. Additional charges are pending, the release stated.
The sheriff’s office began the investigation after receiving on July 6 a delayed sex offense complaint, according to the release.
Strickland was arrested on Thursday where he worked at the Palm Coast City Utility Department.
Strickland admitted to having sexual relations with the victims about 15 times over the past two years, the release stated. The girls ranged from 13 to 17 years of age.
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With the help of an electronics-detection dog from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Flagler Sheriff’s deputies searched Strickland’s home on Bassett Lane, the release stated. Dozens of items were seized for further investigation.
“Anyone who takes away a child’s innocence deserves to be behind bars forever,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly stated in the release. “I hope this arrest will allow some closure to the victims and they are able to get the help they need.”
Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin stated that he was glad the sheriff’s office made an arrest.
“It is unfortunate that he was a utility worker, but to our knowledge he did not do any of this disgusting behavior while working,” Alfin stated in the sheriff’s office release. “I have faith in the sheriff’s investigation and that the criminal justice system will hold him accountable.”
The sheriff’s office asks anyone who believes they were a victim of Strickland or knows of someone who may have been, to call investigators at 386-313-4911.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida man arrested in child sex case in Daytona Beach area
