MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Detectives believe that a man accused of exposing himself to and molesting a 14-year-old girl last month in Marion County could have additional victims.
Danhlelo Sanchez-Jose, 35, was arrested Thursday after offering a ride to an undercover agent who was dressed similarly to the 14-year-old, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Several days earlier, on Jan. 30, a deputy responding to a home in Ocklawaha was the first to hear from the victim, who said that a man later identified as Sanchez-Jose had approached her while she was walking near her neighborhood. Driving a red 2015 GMC Canyon, Sanchez-Jose allegedly exposed himself to the girl before telling her to get in his truck, according to the sheriff’s office. The girl told investigators that she complied out of fear.
Sanchez-Jose molested her and wouldn’t let her leave the vehicle, the sheriff’s office said. Sanchez-Jose later gave the victim $40 and told her to return to the same place the next day, she told investigators.
The sheriff’s office’s Major Crimes detectives saw Sanchez-Jose’s vehicle while surveilling the location the next day, yet were unable to make contact with him, according to the statement. A detective further noted Sanchez-Jose’s vehicle was in the area multiple times between Jan. 30 and Thursday, Feb. 6, when Sanchez-Jose’s alleged attempt to pick up the undercover agent demonstrated “the modus operandi he used to sexually abuse the victim,” the sheriff’s office said.
Sanchez-Jose remains in the Marion County Jail, where he’s held without bond to face charges of human trafficking of a minor, lewd or lascivious molestation and lewd or lascivious exhibition, records show. His statements during an interview, which he eventually refused to continue, were unrealistic and served to dismiss and directly contradict the victim’s disclosure, the sheriff’s office said, adding the victim’s statements were corroborated by evidence.
Investigators believe Sanchez-Jose may have additional victims given his behavioral patterns and the nature of the allegations, according to the statement. Anyone with any information is urged to call Detective Ryan Paxton at 352-368-3545.
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