Investigators say the Sumter County man molested the girl for five years, gave her sleeping pills and showed her X-rated videos.
By DUANE BOURNE
Published August 12, 2004
BROOKSVILLE - A 33-year-old laborer from Sumter County is accused of molesting a girl almost every night for five years.
The alleged abuse began in 1999 when the girl was 9, a sheriff's report stated. The suspect, David Duquette of Webster, is also accused of showing the victim pornographic magazines and X-rated videos, and giving her several medications, including sleeping pills, a sheriff's report stated.
The girl, now 14, also believes that on one occasion in 2003 Duquette videotaped himself performing sex acts on her as she pretended to sleep on a couch, the report said.
The victim told authorities that in the beginning, Duquette did not threaten her, but as she got older, Duquette became bolder, refusing to let her leave a bedroom and telling her that he would hurt one of her relatives if she refused.
The persistent daily abuse ended on May 31, and an investigation began on July 7, the report stated. It is unclear who reported the alleged abuse to authorities. The victim's name was withheld because of the nature of the charges.
Duquette, who does not have a criminal history in Florida, was arrested at the Sheriff's Office on Wednesday morning and charged with five counts of capital sexual battery and five counts of sexual battery.
The capital sexual battery charge, the more serious of the two first-degree felonies, could result in the death penalty depending on the outcome of the sentencing proceedings. Otherwise, if convicted, Duquette could be sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole.
Bail was withheld on Wednesday as Duquette remained in custody at the Hernando County Jail.
Duane Bourne can be reached at 352 754-6114 or dbourne@sptimes.com[Last modified August 12, 2004, 01:50:26]
