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With deputy at the door, sex offender kills self

He was distraught over possibly facing new charges, a family member tells officials.

OCALA - A sex offender wanted for questioning in the molestation of a child and on a warrant for moving without informing authorities fatally shot himself moments before he could be arrested at his mother's home by a Marion County deputy on Friday.

George William Hummel, 61, of Yankeetown, was accused of lewd and lascivious contact with a child under 12, said sheriff's Capt. Dennis Strow. A complaint had been filed with the State Attorney's Office.

Strow said Lake County authorities told the Marion County Sheriff's Office that Hummel, a Levy County resident, was in Ocala. When a deputy arrived at the mobile home, he was met by Hummel's sister and she confirmed that he was there in a bedroom.

"She said, "George, the police are here and they'd like to talk to you,' " Strow said. "That's when they heard the shot."

Hummel's sister told authorities he was distraught over the possibility of facing a new charge.

Law enforcement agencies recently wrapped up a four-week joint operation that located 537 sex offenders across Florida who had moved from registered addresses without notifying authorities. More than 200 people were arrested while the others were either re-registered, deported, already in jail or dead.

[Last modified May 21, 2005, 01:03:17]