A Miami man is accused of sexually abusing a teenager who asked him to give him a ride to the store

MIAMI – A 43-year-old man was arrested by Miami police on Wednesday on charges of sexually assaulting a victim between the ages of 12 and 17.

According to the suspect’s arrest report, the incident occurred on January 14th.

Miami police said Jerome Eugene Williams of Miami and the 17-year-old victim knew each other and that the victim contacted him that same day and asked him to pick her up and take her to a nearby store.

But when Williams picked up the teenager, he told her he “wanted to show her something” before taking her to the store, the police report said.

According to the report, Williams drove the victim to the Miami Bay area of ​​Northeast 39th Street and Sixth Avenue, which has beach access, and began touching the victim’s breasts. As he did so he said, “Come on, baby. We make it.”

Police said the victim begged Williams to stop, but he ignored her and continued to digitally penetrate her, only stopping when she began to cry.

The victim told police that she then received a call from a friend who told Williams to come home, and he drove her home.

According to the report, Williams admitted to investigators that he met the victim about three times and that he would pick her up and take her to her place.

Police said he also admitted to making “approaches” to the victim and hugging her during their last interaction, but denied ever putting his hands in her clothing.

He also claimed the victim told him she was 21, authorities said.

Regardless, statutory rape in Florida is a “strict liability law,” meaning defendants cannot claim in court that the alleged victim lied about her age.

According to the report, Williams told police he had not spoken to the teenager since January, when he found out she was a minor.

He has been held without bail at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center since Thursday.