ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A video that captured two men touching two 11-year-olds in an explicit manner at a residence led to their arrests last weekend.
Tayler DiFrancesco, 19, was charged with two counts of sexual battery, lewd or lascivious conduct and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. DiFrancesco’s arrest report shows he had a Fort Pierce address. However, St. Lucie County sheriff’s officials said in a Facebook post that DiFrancesco lived in Vero Beach.
Arthur Douglas Brown, 20, of Fort Pierce, was charged with sexual battery, lewd or lascivious conduct and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Both men were held Wednesday at the St. Lucie County Jail without bond, according to sheriff’s officials.
The investigation unfolded on Oct. 17 at an elementary school in St. Lucie County. An 11-year-old, fifth-grade student showed another student an explicit photo on their cell phone while riding the school bus, sheriff’s officials said.
A school resource deputy assigned to the unnamed school was notified. The student told the deputy that she was sexually abused by an adult, according to officials.
The girl identified another 11-year-old student who was also sexually abused. The sexual abuse acts did not take place at the school, sheriff’s officials said.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division immediately began an investigation. Through interviews with the girls, detectives identified DiFrancesco and Brown as the suspects.
Deputies obtained a video that showed DiFrancesco and Brown touching the girls in an indecent manner in a bedroom inside a Fort Pierce home. DiFrancesco’s arrest report shows that he had a room inside the residence.
Deputies said DiFrancesco and Brown gave the underage girls drugs and alcohol. Detectives arrested the men.
“Due to the sensitive nature of this case and the ages of the victims, no further details will be released at this time,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement. “The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and bringing justice to those who prey upon them.”
DiFrancesco and Brown both had their first appearances in court on Tuesday morning. Details on their arraignments were not immediately available.
Sheriff’s officials said the case remains an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with further information should contact Det. Rodrigues of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 772-462-3260.
Photos contributed by St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office
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- Arthur Douglas Brown
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- Tayler DiFrancesco
