Man suspected of sexually assaulting a teenager in Lake County arrested on warrant

A New Port Richey man was arrested this week on a warrant for sexually abusing a minor and sending her a nude photo in 2022.

On or about April 10, 2023, Groveland Police received a complaint from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office regarding a minor victim who alleged that she was sexually assaulted by 35-year-old Brett Michael Bohach in 2022, according to a Lake County affidavit of probable cause.

The teenage victim’s family visited Bohach in 2022. While he was at his apartment and everyone was asleep, Bohach escorted the teen into his bedroom. This happened five or six times against her will, the affidavit states.

Bohach fondled the teenage victim’s body under her clothes and groped her buttocks. They described the bedroom where this occurred as small, with a large bed, a mirror attached to one wall and a television on a movable stand, the affidavit states.

At some point in November 2022, Bohach texted the teenage victim and asked if he could finish what he started. They interpreted this as “full-blown sex.” They agreed via text message and were later instructed by Bohach to delete their conversation, which they did. They had no contact with Bohach at the time of reporting the situation because their mother had taken the phone away from them, the affidavit states.

A detective with the GPD Criminal Investigation Division received this complaint and initiated an investigation on or about April 10, 2023. He met with the juvenile victim and his mother on April 13, 2023, at the Children’s Advocacy Center, 300 South Canal Street in Leesburg, for a forensic interview and medical examination. A forensic interviewer qualified the juvenile victim to ensure he knew the difference between truth and lies during the interview, the affidavit states.

The juvenile victim had known Bohach for several years. About three to four years ago, he began touching the victim in South Carolina. They were sitting on the couch watching television when Bohach came and began rubbing her. They did not want this to happen and felt uncomfortable, but did not say anything to anyone, the affidavit states.

On another occasion, the teenage victim was taken to the grandmother’s house on a school bus. Bohach picked them up and took them to the mother’s house because he was staying there overnight before leaving for work the next day, the affidavit states.

While driving, Bohach got a flat tire and stopped the vehicle. He went to the passenger seat, opened the door and pushed the juvenile victim against the seat. He then unbuttoned her pants and performed an unspecified act that lasted a long time, the affidavit states.

The teenage victim was scared because she knew Bohach always carried a gun and told him not to tell anyone. The victim told him to stop, but he ignored her and continued. When the incident was over, he drove her home and spent the night at the mother’s house, the affidavit states.

Inside the house, Bohach woke the teenage victim in the middle of the night and took him to the guest room where he was staying. He made the victim promise not to say anything before repeating the unspecified act from earlier, which lasted a long time. He took out his penis and asked the victim if he liked what he saw. He did not like it and believed his disinterest angered Bohach because he told them to leave the room, the affidavit states.

On Nov. 25, 2022, he came to Bohach’s father’s residence and took the juvenile victim from the room they were staying in. The victim’s mother had left for Black Friday shopping that morning and was not home during the incident. He took the victim to the bedroom where he was staying, the affidavit states.

Bohach then sat on the bed and told the teenage victim to open his phone. He sent a text message from the victim’s phone and asked, “Do you want to finish what we started?” He grabbed his phone and texted back, “Okay, come here.” He told her to text him as if they were in a relationship, calling him baby and cute names, the affidavit states.

Bohach kissed the teenage victim, who did not resist but did not like it. He then forced the victim to stroke his penis. This incident ended and the victim returned to his room, the affidavit states.

In addition, the juvenile victim sent a nude photo to Bohach, who was not named, and he sent a picture of his penis. Why they sent a photo was unknown, but it was known that Bohach sent the victim a picture, the affidavit states.

On or about July 24, 2023, investigators met with Bohach at the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, located at 7432 Little Road in New Port Richey. An interview was conducted during which Bohach was told he could leave at any time and did not have to make any statements to law enforcement. He confirmed this and stated that he came of his own volition and was not coerced by law enforcement to make any statements or meet with them, the affidavit states.

Bohach spoke about his relationship with the family, saying he had a close bond with the teenage victim as they texted each other often throughout the week. They talked about each other’s day and had casual conversations, the affidavit states.

Bohach was then informed that allegations had been made that he had touched the juvenile victim and that they had touched his penis. He admitted to receiving a nude photo from them and texting them back a nude photo of his penis. He also stated that the victim had wanted to see his penis and he had allowed them to touch it and advised that it just happened, the affidavit states.

As Bohach began to incriminate himself, he was advised of his Miranda warning. He stated that he knew his rights and did not wish to speak further without his attorney. Investigators ended the questioning and he left the building of his own volition, the affidavit states.

Based on the entire investigation, Bohach’s actions created probable cause for his arrest. Due to the nature of the case, the detective did not request bail. If the court found it appropriate to release him on bail, the detective requested that he be prohibited from leaving Lake County and be allowed to wear an electronic monitoring device with GPS tracking and tracking as a condition of pretrial release. This is because Bohach travels nationwide for work and is a flight risk, the affidavit states.

Bohach was eventually arrested Tuesday on a warrant for lewd and lascivious battery and distribution of harmful material to a minor. He is being held without bail in the Lake County Jail.