WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A 28-year-old Winter Haven man is facing felony charges after he had multiple sexual encounters with a 17-year-old girl.
Adalberto Badillo of Salisbury Dr., Winter Haven, was taken into custody on Wednesday at his place of employment as the result of an investigation that started when the mother of the victim reported the encounters.
Police say Badillo first met the victim on January 10, 2023, at her fast-food job, where he was in the drive-thru and began to compliment her on her looks. He asked for her social media information, and the conversation started.
On multiple occasions, Badillo would visit the victim at the drive-thru, and he would arrive at her scheduled breaks. She would get into his car, and they would go to areas behind buildings where physical encounters such as kissing ultimately led to sexual encounters.
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On January 16, 2023, Badillo drove the victim to his Salisbury Dr. residence, where the sexual encounters continued.
The victim’s mother learned of the encounters from her daughter and contacted Badillo by phone, confronting him with the information. She asked Badillo if he was aware her daughter was 17 years old, and he acknowledged that he was aware of her age, “but he liked her.”
Even after being confronted by the mother, Badillo continued to pursue the victim. On January 24, Badillo purchased a Tracfone for the victim so they could maintain communication. Encounters continued on January 26 and 27 in his vehicle, each time during the victim’s breaks.
Winter Haven Detectives were made aware of the encounters, and the victim and her mother were interviewed. During the interview, detectives learned that Badillo instructed the victim to tell anyone who asks about their relationship to say they are “only friends.”
He also told her that if she mentioned him to law enforcement, it would ruin him since he knew she was 17 years old, and if she cared for him, she would tell law enforcement that they did not do anything.
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Based on the information gathered through the investigation, detectives took Badillo into custody, charging him with six counts of Traveling to Meet a Minor to Engage in Sexual Conduct (F.S.S. 847.0135(4)(A) – F2; three counts of Sexual Activity by Person 24 or Older with Victim 16 or 17 (F.S.S. 794.05(1) – F2; three counts of Lewd Battery (F.S.S. 800.04(4)(A) – F2; six counts of Use of 2-Way Communication to Commit Felony (F.S.S. 934.215) – F3; and one count of Tampering With a Witness (F.S.S. 914.22(1)(E) – F3.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail, where he remains on a $121,000 bond.
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