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| Photo provided by the Dixie County Sheriff's Office |
July 25, 2017
“If you see something, say something” is the latest messages
all law enforcement agencies are asking of our citizens to do to help combat
crime. And below is an excellent example of how this worked.
On May 30, 2017 a citizen reported seeing a child and adult
behaving in what she deemed was an inappropriate manner at a local State Park.
The citizen gave a statement of what was seen to the responding deputy. The
deputy was able to identify the adult and child and determined the adult male
was Kenneth A. Brooks (8-10-41) of Old Town. The child was under his
supervision at the time. Brooks was initially interviewed and denied ever
acting inappropriately. But this did not end the investigation.
The Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) and
investigators from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations
Division (CID) requested a forensic interview be conducted. The University of
Florida Child Protection Team (CPT) did conduct this interview and during which
the child disclosed that Brooks had been sexually inappropriate with her on
several occasions while at a home in the Chiefland area.
On July 17, 2017 CID investigators secured search warrants
for the property of Kenneth Brooks and for his person. CID investigators met
with Dixie County Sheriff’s Office deputies who executed the warrants.
Investigators discovered evidence precisely as the child victim had described. Further
interview with Mr. Brooks left him no option but to admit to his wrong doings. The
Dixie County Sheriff’s Office established through Brooks confession that he had
also abused the same child at his home in Old Town and he was arrested.
CID investigators have also secured an arrest warrant for
Brooks. He has been charged with four counts of sexual battery by a custodial
and lewd and lascivious molestation. His bond has been set at 4.5 million
dollars. Brooks is currently being held in the Dixie County Jail on a “no
bond.”
Sheriff McCallum said, “Our citizens are our eyes, and ears
and we rely on them for tips such as these to help us protect those whose voice
cannot be heard. I am grateful this person took notice of this situation and
made the report. Her actions have allowed us to protect this child from future
harm and make this arrest. I also want to thank Sheriff Hatcher and his men and
women for their cooperation in this case. Their cooperation has allowed us to
put an end to this child’s suffering.”