INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 73-year-old man is suspected of inappropriately touching an underage girl “hundreds of times” ever since the girl was four years old, authorities said.
The victim’s sister, 21, told deputies the man touched her as well.
Anthony Gilbert Caldwell, of the 6600 block of 77th Street, was charged with lewd and lascivious conduct. He was released March 3 from the Indian River County Jail on $200,000 bond.
Deputies on Feb. 1 spoke with the underage girl, now 12, at the Sheriff’s Office. She told them she spoke to a school guidance counselor and said Caldwell had touched her inappropriately several times for at least eight years, deputies said.
The girl told deputies the most recent incident occurred last month.
Deputies set up a recorded phone call on Feb. 1 between the father of the girls and Caldwell. In the call, the father questioned the suspect about the accusations against him; Caldwell denied the allegations, according to the report.
The next day, deputies spoke with Caldwell at his home, where he continued to deny the accusations. In a follow up interview Feb. 13, Caldwell told deputies he “probably” touched the girl in an inappropriate place.
Caldwell was arrested and taken to the county jail for booking. He has an arraignment at 8:30 a.m. April 4 in court, court records show.