BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook announced on April 14 that one of her deputies was arrested for sexual battery.
Cook said Paul S. Mauricio, an 8-year veteran of the agency was arrested for capital sexual battery for incidents that occurred when the victim was under 12 years of age and custodial sexual battery for offenses occurring after the victim turned 12.
Cook said that on April 12, her office received a call about a sexual battery that had occurred earlier that day.
“Deputies arrived and met with a woman who told them that her 12-year-old daughter came into her bedroom crying and told her about an incident of inappropriate sexual contact with an adult that happened earlier in the day,” Cook said in a news conference. “The victim said the incident was bothering her and she further stated that this was not the first time that something like this had occurred and that she wanted it to stop.”
Cook said that the following morning, child protection team members interviewed the victim.
“During this interview,” Cook said, “the victim disclosed details of a pattern of sexual abuse incidents that had been ongoing for some time.”
The sheriff said deputies then questioned Mauricio about the allegations. Cook said the man admitted to a pattern of inappropriate sexual contact with the child and was immediately arrested.
Cook said the defendant and victim know each other but declined to specify the relationship between the two.
Cook also commended the victim for coming forward.
“I just want to commend her for her bravery in in coming forward with such a difficult conversation with her mom,” Cook said.
She added that the defendant has worked as a patrol deputy and that she would be upgrading his suspension to a termination due to his arrest.
“It is always disappointing when a deputy tarnishes the badge,” she said, “but we have so many more who remain committed to honoring their oath to protect and serve our community by holding criminals accountable, even if that criminal wears a badge.”
