INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 75-year-old man suspected of inappropriately touching a 10-year-old girl at a home, was detained Tuesday.
Wayne Edward Knoth Sr. (PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)
Deputies arrested Wayne Edward Knoth Sr., of the 6100 block of Island Harbor Road, Sebastian, on a charge of lewd lascivious molestation. Knoth was released Wednesday from the Indian River County Jail on $75,000 bond.
Indian River County deputies began investigating reports of child molestation on March 29. The girl called her mother, saying Knoth had laid on top of her naked, touched her backside and genitals just a few days earlier, reports show.
On April 6, deputies set up a controlled phone call to Knoth, where Knoth spoke to his son. In the recorded call, Knoth initially denied touching the girl.
Later, Knoth admitted to his son that he touched the child. Knoth said “it was an honest mistake. I’m sorry. It happened,” while still on the phone call, reports show.
Knoth was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation before being taken to the county jail. Knoth has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. June 5, court records show.
