BRIEF: Homeless man molested girl, 6, in emergency hurricane shelter, Okaloosa deputies say

Oct. 12--A homeless man was arrested after he was accused of molesting a 6-year-old inside an emergency hurricane shelter in Okaloosa County, according to the Sheriff's Office.

John Stapleton, 60 of Destin, was arrested Thursday and faces charges of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under 12-years old, the agency's press release stated.

A witness recorded and showed authorities Stapleton touching a 6-year-old girl under her clothing in a lewd manner inside of Davidson Middle School, which was being used as a hurricane shelter, the indicated.

Deputies said they confronted Stapleton ,who admitted to touching the child, but said it was not in an offensive manner.

OCSO arrested Stapleton and brought him to the Okaloosa County Department of Corrections, where he was denied bail.

The arrest resulted in nearly 1,000 people reacting negatively on a post made on OCSO's Facebook page. The post has been shared about 600 times.

jpedersen@orlandosentinel.com, 407-420-5268, @JoeMarPedersen on Twitter or @JoeMarioPedersenJournals on Facebook

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