News

Man, 19, charged with having sex with teen girl

Published: Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 1:20 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 1:22 p.m.

OCALA - Ocala police arrested a 19-year-old man on Wednesday and charged him with lewd and lascivious battery on a girl.

Lemond R. Gaitor is accused of having had consensual sex with the girl, now 16, since she was 14 years old, according to a Police Department report. The girl's mother reported the offense.

The alleged victim told police Detective Mike Green about having consensual sex with Gaitor. The suspect told the detective that he and the girl had sex a few times.

He was then arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.

- Austin L. Miller


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  1. gaitorfam says...
    October 9, 2008 12:46:27 pm

    RE: Link The 19 year old wasn't 19 at the time he was 17.The girl was 14 and the boy was 17 they were high school students and her mother said she didn't make any complants the police department did this on their on. Took this case to destroy and a young black boys life.

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  2. mollythemobster says...
    October 9, 2008 3:19:45 pm

    I'm wondering how this is illegal...

    Star-Banner has previously written that the age of consent is 16, with the person being allowed to have sex with someone up to the age of 23.

    The accused was also underage when the relationships started. And why isn't SHE the one being charged, since it was consensual?

    I'd appreciate any education that can be given, as I'm not familiar with the laws.

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  3. justamom45 says...
    October 9, 2008 4:35:53 pm

    Wow what criminals, maybe we all need to go to jail if that's the case.

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  4. peachykeene says...
    October 9, 2008 4:38:27 pm

    I don't think that if he were 17 at the time that he did anything wrong. I know a guy in Marion County that is 23 and is dating a 16 year old girl. The worst part is that he got her pregnant. I think that is wrong!! I have tried calling MCSO and all I have been told is that if they are over 16 and the other is younger than 24 it is legal. I wonder how DCF feels about this issues though.

    In my opinion, anyone that is under the age of 18 is still considered a child and we should all be protecting them.

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  5. godiva1241 says...
    October 9, 2008 6:39:55 pm

    The age of consent in Florida is 16 years old. So if someone over the age of 16 has sex with someone under the age of 16, and it is consenual, then they are committing Lewd and Lascivious Battery. Why? Because they are young adults and should know better and should be looking out for younger kids, not having sex with them. Do I agree? Not necessarily. But in this case the girl was 14 years old and the boy was 17 years old. While there is only a 3 year difference, he is almost an adult and she either just reached puberity or did so in the 2 years prior. And by the way, the police did not just do this on their own. How do you think the police found out about the relationship and the sex. A responsible mother!

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  6. cdemc5120 says...
    October 9, 2008 7:29:18 pm

    I hope the mom is proud that she has destroyed a boys life, he will be labeled a sex offender for the rest of his life and why because her daughter could not keep her pants on. This has been going on for two years and she is just figuring it out now right.

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  7. Magician says...
    October 9, 2008 7:39:17 pm

    Again, people want to blame the victim. The comment that she didn't keep her pants on is idiotic. He was a young adult and she was a child at the beginning. Then he was an adult and she was still a child/young adult. In this case I am pretty sure niether kept their pants on.

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  8. mrp says...
    October 10, 2008 4:24:32 am

    They were both children at the time. There needs to be some new laws to keep this from happening. Most 14 year old girls are not so innocent. I see it everyday with my sons, the girls are VERY forward now a days. If it is consential and they are both children (under 18) they should not be able to charge anyone. I agree the cops didn't find this out on their own, someone reported it, and they should be ashamed of themselves.

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