Manatee County man charged with sexually assaulting a child

A 49-year-old Manatee County man faces several charges of sexually assaulting a minor over the course of more than two years, according to the Manatee County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies say Barry Mulkey began abusing the victim from the time the child was 8 years old.

Mulkey was arrested Saturday on two counts of molesting a child under the age of 12 and two counts of forced fondling.

He remains in custody on bonds totaling $1 million.

According to the arrest warrant, the victim recently came forward and provided investigators with detailed accounts of the abuse. Deputies say Mulkey threatened the victim when the child refused to do what he said.

Deputies caught up to Mulkey late Saturday and took him into custody during a traffic stop. Mulkey refused to cooperate with the investigation, according to the report.