Cape man charged in reported molestation of 6-year-old

by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 3/21/09

A Cape Coral man is accused of molesting a 6-year-old while babysitting the child and another youth in his home last June.

Sebastio Filho Beraldo Jr., 38, was arrested on a warrant by Cape Coral detectives Thursday on felony charges of molesting a victim under 12 years old by an offender over 18 and battery of a child with bodily fluids.

He remained in the Lee County Jail Friday evening on a combined $60,000 bond.

Detective Brice Bearman issued the warrant for Beraldo's arrest in December, at the tail-end of an investigation that stemmed from allegations made to investigators with the Department of Children and Families.

The allegations came several days after the alleged incident, during which DCF investigator Hailey Tucker was told the 6-year-old was touched inappropriately.

Sally Beckett, a Child Protective Team investigator, interviewed the children in July. During the interviews, allegations were made that Beraldo had touched the victim's buttocks and genitals with his genitals, and also had urinated on the victim.

Beraldo met with detective Bearman and officer Luis Diaz in July, and denied the allegations made against him, according to Beraldo's arrest warrant.

Beraldo said he was sleeping on the floor with the victim, and that it was the victim who had urinated while sleeping, the warrant states.

Bearman executed a body warrant for DNA evidence and obtained oral swabs from Beraldo, entering them into evidence, he reported.

Bearman found probable cause to charge Beraldo and issued a warrant for his arrest, which was served Thursday at approximately 4:10 p.m.

Beraldo was taken to the Lee County Jail in apparent good health, the arrest report states.