A Lake County man was arrested on a warrant Tuesday for allegedly buying a sex toy for a minor and exposing himself.
On Sept. 4, deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to an undisclosed residence regarding a sex offense complaint, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County.
Upon arrival, the deputies learned that the female complainant discovered a juvenile victim had been urinating in his pants since the week before, which was unusual. She questioned the victim who stated that 19-year-old Christian Thomas Ledford had bought a pink item shaped like a male’s genitalia and asked the juvenile to use it on himself, the affidavit said.
The complainant went to Ledford’s residence and confronted him and his father. They allowed her inside Ledford’s bedroom where she found a black box in his bedroom closet that contained a sex toy similar to the one the described by the juvenile victim, the affidavit said.
On Sept. 19, a detective with the LCSO met with the complainant and juvenile victim at the Children’s Advocacy Center, located at 300 S. Canal Street in Leesburg, where a case coordinator was to conduct an interview. The juvenile victim began by saying he wanted Ledford arrested because he was inappropriate by buying things for them to use on “down there,” the affidavit said.
The juvenile victim continued, stating Ledford had bought a pink item that looked like a male’s “down there.” He told the victim to use it on himself. He also bought a massager that he asked the victim to use. The juvenile victim had seen Ledford use a different sex toy on himself when entering his bedroom, the affidavit said.
The juvenile victim further advised that Ledford pulled down his pants and exposed himself to them. The victim had also asked Ledford for various items, such as food, and he would say he would give him the food if they let him perform oral sex on him. Additionally, the victim stated Ledford kept the sex toys in a black case that he hid in his closet, the affidavit said.
The juvenile victim told Ledford to stop when they got older and threatened to punch him in the face. He had not tried to do anything or show them anything since then. Later, the complainant requested therapy services for the victim due to the incidents, the affidavit said.
On Sept. 20, the detective went to the incident location to interview Ledford. His father left the residence and stated Ledford had an attorney and did not wish to speak with law enforcement, the affidavit said.
Ledford was ultimately arrested Tuesday evening by the LCSO on a warrant charging him with two counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition, lewd or lascivious conduct and contributing to the delinquency of a child. He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $80,000 bond.
