impqueen
March 13th, 2008, 11:26 AM
link: http://www.ocala.com/article/20080312/NEWS/803120328/1001/NEWS01
Deputies happy to help teen-sex suspect
Sheriff's captain says accused sex offender takes 'dumb' to new level
BY AUSTIN L. MILLER
STAR-BANNER
DUNNELLON - Most people don't ride in the back of a squad car until after they've been arrested. Wilken Morestant did it the other way around.
About 2:25 a.m. Tuesday, deputies saw Morestant in the 4700 block of Southwest Floral Court, which is west of U.S. 41 and north of State Road 40. He told them his 2005 Nissan Sentra had broken down and asked them for a ride to his girlfriend's nearby residence.
The deputies complied. But they didn't stop there.
At the home, a 15-year-old girl told them that she was preparing to go to bed after being out with Morestant.
The deputies spoke with the girl's mother, who was surprised that her daughter had left the home and met with Morestant.
Morestant told the detectives that, about 10 p.m. Monday, the girl had called and asked him to come pick her up. He said they went to the 5000 block of Southwest Evergreen Court, chatted for a few hours, then had sex.
Morestant told deputies the sex was consensual, and that the girl told him she was 16 and would turn 17 in a few weeks.
Morestant is 19, and the girl is actually 15, according to officials. Under Florida statute, it is unlawful to engage in sexual activity with a child who is younger than 16.
Officials arrested Morestant, a Silver Springs Shores resident and Florida A&M University student, on a charge of lewd and lascivious battery.
Then they gave him another ride - to the Marion County Jail.
"It's not that unusual for criminals to commit dumb acts, which makes our jobs easier," sheriff's Capt. Jimmy Pogue said. "However, I can't remember a criminal making it that convenient for us to catch him."
Deputies happy to help teen-sex suspect
Sheriff's captain says accused sex offender takes 'dumb' to new level
BY AUSTIN L. MILLER
STAR-BANNER
DUNNELLON - Most people don't ride in the back of a squad car until after they've been arrested. Wilken Morestant did it the other way around.
About 2:25 a.m. Tuesday, deputies saw Morestant in the 4700 block of Southwest Floral Court, which is west of U.S. 41 and north of State Road 40. He told them his 2005 Nissan Sentra had broken down and asked them for a ride to his girlfriend's nearby residence.
The deputies complied. But they didn't stop there.
At the home, a 15-year-old girl told them that she was preparing to go to bed after being out with Morestant.
The deputies spoke with the girl's mother, who was surprised that her daughter had left the home and met with Morestant.
Morestant told the detectives that, about 10 p.m. Monday, the girl had called and asked him to come pick her up. He said they went to the 5000 block of Southwest Evergreen Court, chatted for a few hours, then had sex.
Morestant told deputies the sex was consensual, and that the girl told him she was 16 and would turn 17 in a few weeks.
Morestant is 19, and the girl is actually 15, according to officials. Under Florida statute, it is unlawful to engage in sexual activity with a child who is younger than 16.
Officials arrested Morestant, a Silver Springs Shores resident and Florida A&M University student, on a charge of lewd and lascivious battery.
Then they gave him another ride - to the Marion County Jail.
"It's not that unusual for criminals to commit dumb acts, which makes our jobs easier," sheriff's Capt. Jimmy Pogue said. "However, I can't remember a criminal making it that convenient for us to catch him."