Live Oak Police Department
Contributor
On Thursday, April 3, the Live Oak Police Department (LOPD) responded to a complaint of lewd, lascivious sexual misconduct involving a minor child. As officers were en route, the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office dispatchers relayed information from the victim's mother and the original complainant that the incident had just occurred, and the suspect was leaving the area on foot when he discovered law enforcement had been contacted.
The suspect was known to the mother and identified as Kevin James Gary, a 45-year-old from Live Oak. Officers responding to the call were familiar with Gary from previous law enforcement interactions. LOPD Sgt. Gerald Butler discovered Gary on his way to the call. Gary initially tried to conceal himself from Sgt. Butler by hiding behind a large pecan tree and then resisted Sgt. Butler's commands to stop. As Sgt. Butler began trying to place Gary in hand restraints, Gary continued to struggle and refused to cooperate with law enforcement commands. Gary was in possession of an open can of beer during this portion of the encounter. Gary was apprehended and taken into custody, initially for resisting or obstructing a law enforcement officer in the lawful performance of his duties. Gary spontaneously stated during this time that he had kissed the minor child.
Investigator Jeramie Cheshire responded to the scene and conducted preliminary interviews with the victim, the mother of the victim and a third witness who was present in the room during the event. By sworn statements, it was reported that Gary allegedly exposed his sexual organ to the minor child and solicited the minor child to engage in sexual intercourse. Further, it was reported that Gary was touching, groping and kissing the victim while trying to solicit sexual conduct. Detective Cheshire delivered the child and mother to Child Protective Team Services for further investigation and evidence collection.
Gary was arrested and charged with resisting or obstructing a law enforcement officer, lewd and lascivious conduct by exposure of sexual organs to a minor child, and lewd and lascivious conduct by soliciting a minor child to engage in sexual activity. He was delivered to the Suwannee County Jail, where he is awaiting criminal proceedings.
The names of the victim, a 15-year-old minor child, and other witnesses, as well as the scene location, are currently being withheld from this release to protect the identity of the victim and the integrity of the ongoing criminal investigation.Jason Futch
[email protected]