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BROOKSVILLE - An Ocala man is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old Hernando County girl who he met over the Internet.
Hernando County Sheriff's deputies arrested Devonte Welcome, 20, Wednesday and charged him with five counts of lewd and lascivious battery after the 14-year-old victim provided a sworn statement regarding their sexual relationship.
According to the arrest report, Welcome and the victim met over the Internet and had sex in Hernando County at least five times during May, June, July and October. She told detectives she informed the suspect that she was 14 and he told her he was 18.
Authorities said Welcome admitted to having sexual relations with the victim, whose name is being withheld because of the nature of the charges.
Welcome was held Wednesday in the Hernando County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.