86-year-old Marion man charged with sexually abusing a young girl in the 1970s

An 86-year-old Fort McCoy man has been arrested and charged with sexual assault for the sexual abuse of a young girl who was in his care for several years in the 1970s.

On Tuesday, June 18, Marion County Sheriff’s Office officials arrested Charles Hill after a female victim alleged he sexually abused her decades earlier when she was between 8 and 15 years old, according to the police report.

During a police interview, the victim described Hill as “controlling” and stated that Hill often “threatened” and “physically abused” her and her siblings during their childhood.

The victim described an alleged incident when she was home alone with Hill and her sister. She stated that she had nightmares that night after watching a scary movie and Hill crawled into bed with her. She stated that when she woke up, Hill “was on top of her and his (penis) was inside her,” according to the report.

The victim stated that Hill told her that the above incident was “his way of showing her love” and that “it would remain their secret.” An MCSO corporal noted in the report that during the interview, the victim described additional instances of sexual abuse that allegedly occurred on a small staircase in the middle of the house.

According to the victim, Hill put her “on the step,” used Vaseline to “wet her,” and then allegedly had sex with her. The victim claimed this happened multiple times.

In addition, the victim claimed that Hill came into her bedroom several times during the night when she was between 11 and 13 years old. He allegedly reached under her nightgown and rubbed her with his hands in a sexual manner.

The victim also claimed that Hill took her swimming in a creek near the house and allegedly had sex with her in the water. During several hunting trips in the Ocala National Forest, the victim also claimed that Hill had sex with her on the ground.

In 1988, the victim stated that she confronted Hill about the sexual abuse and he “admitted” to it. He then allegedly told her that she “liked it” and that it was “his way of showing her that he loved her,” according to the report.

The victim told authorities that she informed her mother about the sexual abuse, adding that her siblings and one of her relatives also knew about the allegations against Hill.

On Tuesday, June 18, MCSO detectives arrived at Hill’s home and made contact with the victim’s mother. She described Hill as “mean” and “not a good person” and claimed she had also been “emotionally and verbally abused” by him, according to the report.

The victim’s mother said she learned of her daughter’s allegations against Hill “approximately two years ago.” The report states the victim’s mother was “visibly distraught” and crying when she spoke to investigators.

The report states that when Hill returned to the apartment later that day, he was detained in handcuffs. After being read his Miranda rights, Hill admitted that he had taken the victim hunting and fishing when she was a child and had gone swimming in the creek near her apartment, corroborating the victim’s statement.

During the Miranda interview, Hill admitted to telling the victim in a previous conversation that her allegations were true. However, Hill claimed he admitted this to the victim in an attempt to “reunite” with her since they had become estranged, according to the report.

Hill continued to deny the allegations, stating that the victim had “twisted the truth.” He refused to speak further about the incident and was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.

Hill is currently being held in jail without bail and is charged with sexual abuse, a serious crime.

According to prison records, no court date has been scheduled yet.