The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 20-year-old Palm Coast man after a monthlong investigation found he was in a sexual relationship with a minor. The investigation began on Sept. 16 when a concerned parent reported to deputies that her teenage child had been in a relationship with a man identified as “Brandon” for about three months. Deputies and a mental health specialist from the Behavioral Response Unit responded to the family’s Palm Coast home.
With the parents’ permission, deputies collected the victim’s cellphone and iPad for analysis by the Sheriff’s Office Digital Forensics Unit. The Investigation into Digital forensics showed that Brandon Raymond, 20, of Palm Coast, had communicated with the victim through text messages, Snapchat, and Instagram. The messages included sexually explicit content referring to past sexual activity between them. On Oct. 1, the Florida Department of Health Child Protection Team interviewed the victim.
The interview confirmed that Raymond and the victim had been in a relationship for approximately three months. The victim told investigators that Raymond knew they were a minor and that the two had sex on multiple occasions, including in Raymond’s vehicle. On Oct. 8, detectives obtained warrants to search Raymond’s vehicle, collect his DNA, and seize his cellphone. Two days later, detectives found Raymond in a grocery store parking lot in Flagler Beach. During their conversation, Raymond confirmed he was aware of the victim’s age and admitted they had sex at least twice. Detectives then seized his vehicle and phone and collected a DNA sample.
The Crime Scene Investigations Unit analyzed the vehicle and found biological fluids on the back seat and on clothing items in the trunk. The evidence was sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further testing. On Nov. 7, detectives obtained a warrant for Raymond’s arrest on two counts of lewd or lascivious battery of a minor. The Problem Area Crime Enforcement Unit located Raymond at his home that evening and arrested him. He was taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and later released on a $50,000 bond.
“This offender was fully aware that the child he was having sex was just that — a child,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Fortunately, the child’s parent understood how serious the situation was and contacted law enforcement. I commend the parent for being the Sheriff in their home, as well as the dedicated team members from our patrol, Major Case, Digital Forensics, CSI, Behavioral Response, and PACE units who worked hard to make this case and arrest him. Now, he can face justice for taking advantage of a young child.”
Additional Charges: Raymond’s arrest was his third in two weeks. Deputies had previously arrested him twice on warrants from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office related to a shooting investigation in Ormond Beach. On Nov. 1, deputies arrested Raymond on a Volusia County warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of shooting or throwing a deadly missile into a vehicle. He was released on a $55,000 bond. On Tuesday, deputies arrested Raymond again on a Volusia County warrant for tampering with a witness. His bond was later revoked, and he was turned over to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
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