INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An Indian River County man has been arrested for sexual battery on a missing 12-year-old girl found at his residence, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
Blake Durden, 18, was arrested when he admitted to having sex with the victim, a missing 12-year-old girl, according to authorities. The victim, who was missing, was wearing a GPS electronic monitoring device from probation on her ankle, was found in the same residence. A detective was able to track the device to that residence.
When authorities asked Durden if the victim brought anything into his room Durden said yes, at which point the detective went into the room to retrieve her things and saw a bottle of lubricant on the dresser. The detective then asked Durden if he had sex with the missing juvenile, which he replied they had.
The victim said that Durden did have sex with her, according to the Sheriff’s Office. She attempted to stop him. She also stated that Durden knew her age. During a Sheriff’s Office interview Durden said that he asked the juvenile to have sex and said she agreed. He also said in the interview that he and the victim had been dateing for four months and this is the first time they had sex.
Durden faces charges of lewd and lascivious battery. He is being held at the Indian River County Jail on $25,000 bond and remains there.
