A 38-year-old Ponte Vedra man was arrested last week on a charge of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12 years of age, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO).
Bryan Brown, of 272 Woodland Greens Drive in Nocatee’s Green Leaf Village, turned himself in June 29 after a warrant was issued for his arrest. The victim told deputies, per a SJSO police report, that Brown molested her on three to four separate occasions between January and April. Authorities said Brown is an “acquaintance” of the victim. SJSO jail records state that Brown was released June 30 after posting a bond in the amount of $200,000.
The victim said Brown entered her bedroom each of the incidents when she was alone watching television and touched her in the crotch region. The report explains that Brown would stand next to the victim’s bed, reach inside her clothing and touch her inappropriately, leading the victim to explain to him that he was touching her “where she goes to the bathroom from.”
Deputies said the victim knew Brown’s actions were wrong only after she heard a lecture at school about sexual child abuse.
Update
According to SJSO and court documents, Brown ultimately pleaded no contest to child abuse, instead of the charge of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12 years of age that he was originally arrested for. In March 2018, Brown was sentenced to nine months in the county jail, followed by four years of probation with sex offender conditions.
