Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Early this morning, Cody Daniel Lord, 24, was arrested and charged with seven counts of sexual battery on a minor, kidnapping, and child abuse after the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl at the pool at Forest View Apartments (formerly The Pavilion on 62nd, 1000 SW 62nd Blvd).
A detective from the Gainesville Police Department reported that the victim, accompanied by a friend who is also a minor, arrived at the pool around 9 p.m. on May 30, and the two girls sat in the hot tub. Around 11 p.m., Lord entered the gated pool area, approached the hot tub, and asked if he could join them. Allegedly, he reassured them by saying they “don’t have to worry” because he is a law enforcement officer. The girls agreed to let him join, mentioning they were planning to leave shortly.
The detective noted that details about the events that followed were gathered from the victim, surveillance footage captured at the pool, and statements made by Lord after being read his Miranda rights.
Lord reportedly offered to get a bottle of tequila, left briefly, and returned with the tequila, which he shared with the girls. He reportedly showed them a badge, emphasizing that he really is a law enforcement officer. The victim told the detective the badge was silver and “kind of oval.”
At about midnight, the victim’s friend left the pool, but the victim remained with Lord in the hot tub; within a few minutes, Lord allegedly tried to kiss and touch the victim, but she said she didn’t want him to touch or kiss her. Although Lord backed off at that moment, he allegedly pinned her up against a gate a few minutes later and sexually battered her. She freed herself by pushing him away, and Lord backed away with his hands up, signaling that he would not touch her again.
The victim said she believed Lord would leave her alone and sat in a chair near the hot tub, but Lord allegedly got into the hot tub and pulled the victim, still in her chair, forcibly into the hot tub. The victim got out quickly, and Lord allegedly grabbed her, preventing her from leaving, while she struggled to break free again.
The victim ran to the bathrooms but found them locked, and Lord again sexually battered her.
A still image from the surveillance video was shown to employees at the apartment complex, and they identified Lord and showed the detective his apartment, directly to the south of the pool. The victim identified Lord in a photo line-up, and he was arrested at his apartment.
Officers reported that at the time of his arrest, Lord had a silver Florida Department of Corrections Officer badge on his belt; Lord reportedly said he routinely wears the badge, even when not on duty, and he lifts his shirts up over the badge to show it off. He said he is often “mistaken” for a law enforcement officer because of this. The arrest report notes that Lord works at Lowell Correctional Institute, a female prison in Ocala.
Post Miranda, Lord reportedly estimated that he sexually battered the victim seven or eight times. He said he never asked the victim or her friend how old they were, but he expressed concern several times about providing alcohol to a minor.
The victim reportedly suffered injuries that were consistent with her account of the incident.
Lord has been charged with seven counts of sexual battery on a victim between the ages of 12 and 17, kidnapping with intent to facilitate a felony, and child abuse without serious bodily injury. He has no local criminal history; Judge Sheree Lancaster ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.
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.
