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Man, 44, accused of having sex with girl

Police say she was just shy of 12 when it started.

By JONATHAN ABEL
Published February 9, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - Harold Scism, a 44-year-old Brooksville man, was arrested Wednesday and accused of carrying on a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl.

Police say the sex started when she was 11.

A self-employed landscaper, Scism started having sex with the girl on Dec. 31, 2002, according to the Hernando Sheriff's Office, when the girl was just shy of her 12th birthday.

Since then, the two had sex three or four times a week and sometimes every day, the girl told investigators.

Scism was charged with one count of sexual battery of a child under 12 and 25 counts of sexual battery of a child over 12.

According to the arrest report, Scism said that he knew what he was doing was wrong and he had tried to stop, but he couldn't.

The arrest report said that Scism repeatedly said he loved the girl and wanted to marry her.

The allegations of sexual abuse were reported by a man whom the girl had talked to over the Internet.

Scism is being held at the Hernando County Jail without bail. According to state law enforcement records, it is Scism's first arrest.

Jonathan Abel can be reached at jabel@sptimes.com or 352 754-6114.

[Last modified February 8, 2007, 22:29:51]