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Man sentenced to 40 years for molesting girl

Northwest Florida Daily News - 6/22/2018

June 22--MILTON -- A man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after he was found guilty of molesting a young girl at his home in Milton.

A jury found Richard Lewis Houser, 32, guilty Thursday of committing lewd or lascivious molestation on a victim younger than 12 years old, according to the State Attorney's Office.

According to Houser's arrest report, the girl told authorities that he molested her on Jan. 25, 2017. She said that a week before the molestation, he began to look at her while she was in the shower, using the excuse that he was getting a towel or soap.

On the day of the molestation, the girl said Houser asked to cuddle with her in her bed, then fondled one of her breasts while making lewd comments, according to the report. After he pulled her underwear down and told her, "don't worry, this won't hurt," the girl ran out of the room screaming for help.

The man told the girl's mother that she was upset because he had gotten onto her for not washing dishes, the report said.

In an interview with police, Houser gave conflicting statements about what happened and about his employment history. He then was arrested and charged with felony lewd and lascivious behavior.

Santa Rosa County Circuit Judge John F. Simon imposed the sentence immediately after Houser was found guilty. In addition to the prison term, Houser will be on sexual offender probation for life. Simon also designated Houser as a sexual predator.

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(c)2018 the Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.)

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