Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Tony “Travis” Slater, 44, was arrested Thursday after authorities accused him of sexually battering a 5-year-old girl.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said it received a report on May 24 after the child disclosed that Slater had inappropriately touched her when she was 5 years old.
During a forensic interview with the Child Protection Team, the girl said Slater touched and rubbed her genitals with his hand underneath her underwear, according to investigators. A sheriff’s office detective said the child’s account remained consistent from her initial disclosure through the forensic interview.
Authorities said Slater came to sheriff’s office headquarters on June 11 for a voluntary interview. After being advised of his Miranda rights, he denied touching the child inappropriately. Instead, he told investigators that he had only repositioned her because she was sleeping uncomfortably. He also denied reaching under her underwear or touching her genitals, deputies said.
According to investigators, Slater suggested the allegations stemmed from what he described as the girl having “some form of sexual fantasy” about him or believing she was in a “secret relationship” with him. He also allegedly claimed the child “has a sexual drive.” Investigators said other witnesses disputed those statements and said the girl had never shown sexualized behavior.
Slater has been charged with lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim under the age of 12. His only local criminal history is a conviction for driving without a valid license in 2006. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
