MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) annpunced Friday the arrest of 22-year-old Jaquese Sankey, Tampa, on charges of Lewd or Lascivious Battery on a Victim Aged 12 to 16, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony, and four counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
The investigation began on January 2, 2025, when MCSO deputies responded to a report from a grandmother who found Sankey in bed with her 13-year-old granddaughter at a Marion County residence.
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According to authorities, Sankey had secretly entered the home the previous night and engaged in sexual activity with the minor. When confronted, Sankey fled the scene.
Marion County Major Crimes Detective Ryan Stith led the investigation, uncovering Snapchat messages between Sankey and the victim. The messages revealed that Sankey, aware of the victim’s age, had traveled from Tampa to spend the night with her and had received sexually explicit images and videos from the minor.
During a forensic interview, the victim confirmed that she and Sankey engaged in sexual activity twice that night. She noted that they had been communicating for nearly a month after meeting through a mutual friend, and Sankey was fully aware she was 13 years old.
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Further investigation revealed disturbing evidence. On February 12, 2025, Detective Stith obtained additional messages from a search warrant, showing Sankey communicating with 11 other females under the age of 18.
In these conversations, Sankey acknowledged their ages, expressed indifference, and requested explicit photos and videos while discussing plans to meet several of them.
Unable to locate Sankey initially, authorities issued a warrant for his arrest. On March 22, 2025, the Tampa Police Department apprehended him. Sankey was extradited to the Marion County Jail, where he admitted to sexually battering the 13-year-old victim during an interview with Detective Stith.
Sankey remains in custody at the Marion County Jail as the investigation continues. The MCSO urges anyone with additional information to come forward.
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