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Man charged with fourth molestationBy COLLEEN JENKINS
© St. Petersburg Times, PORT RICHEY -- A felon used a series of children's sleep-overs in May and June to molest four girls in Port Richey, according to Pasco sheriff's reports. On Wednesday, a detective arrested 33-year-old Frank Joseph Cerullo on one count of lewd and lascivious behavior for the most recent incident, which involved a 10-year-old. He was jailed June 24 in connection with the molestation of three other girls in Port Richey. It is unclear from reports where the sleep-overs took place or what Cerullo's relationship was to the girls. But according to reports, the incidents took place in this order: On an unknown date in May, a 10-year-old girl awoke during the middle of the night when she felt someone touching her inside her underwear. On May 26, authorities say, Cerullo inappropriately touched another girl. On the evening of June 23, he removed a third girl's underwear and touched her. Sheriff's spokesman Jon Powers said he did not have time to look up these girls' ages on Thursday afternoon. Authorities say Cerullo molested a fourth girl, age 10, on June 24. At 2:30 a.m., he pulled down her shorts and underwear and fondled her. Cerullo, of 7005 King Arthur Drive, was first arrested on two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct on June 24. He was released, then arrested again on a third count of molestation July 5. When deputies arrested him Wednesday for the fourth time, he already was at the county jail in Land O'Lakes. The most recent arrest report states that one 10-year-old witnessed Cerullo molesting another 10-year-old girl. This witness and two other girls said they also had been victims of similar sexual abuse by Cerullo at the same unspecified location in Port Richey. Cerullo was being held Thursday evening in lieu of $50,000 bail. His criminal background includes Florida felony convictions of grand theft auto, driving with a suspended or revoked license, forgery and dealing in stolen property. He also has misdemeanor convictions for trespassing and resisting or obstructing an officer without violence. In an unrelated incident, a detective arrested Michael Joseph Ford, 23, of 13016 Barney Drive, Hudson, on Wednesday in connection with another molestation. Reports state that a 12-year-old girl, who said she had a crush on Ford, was at his home the weekend of June 16-17. While there, the girl kissed Ford on his lips and placed her hand on his genitals for several minutes, reports stated. Ford placed his hand outside the girl's underwear and massaged her genitals. He was arrested at his home at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and transported to the county jail. He faces a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation. He was being held Thursday in lieu of $50,000 bail. He has no bail set for a probation violation charge or a previous lewd and lascivious case. - Colleen Jenkins can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6232 or (800)333-7505, ext.6232.
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