Palmetto man arrested after 5-year-old lured from birthday party and raped, sheriff says
A Palmetto-area man is facing charges after deputies say he lured a 5-year-old girl away from a neighborhood kid’s birthday party to his home, forced her to watch child porn and then raped her, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday.
Christopher Thompson, 44, was arrested on Monday and is charged with capital sexual battery, exposing minors to harmful images and production and possession of child pornography. He is being held without bond at the Manatee County jail, according to jail records.
Thompson and the girl were both at her friend’s birthday party in the Old Mill Preserve subdivision, near Buffalo Creek Park, when he lured her to his house across the street in the 7000 block of Water Mill Street, Palmetto.
After forcing the girl to watch child porn involving a man then raping her, Thompson told her not say anything and went back to the party.
The girl’s parents later reported the rape to the sheriff’s office, according to a news release.
The sheriff’s office said they found photos that they believe are evidence of Thompson committing lewd and lascivious battery on several other girls. Florida state statute defines lewd and lascivious battery as sexual activity with a child 12 years of age or older but less than 16 years of age.
Detectives are working on trying to identify those victims, sheriff’s office spokesman Randy Warren said on Tuesday afternoon. Thompson is facing additional charges as a result.
During a search of Thompson’s home after securing a search warrant, detectives also found and seized a significant number of electronics on which they found evidence he was producing and possessing child pornography.
Thompson’s neighbors approached detectives during their search of the house with concerns for their own children.
Detectives believe there are more victims and are encouraging anyone with information about similar incidents involving Christopher Thompson to call the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at 941-747-3011.
This story was originally published April 26, 2022 at 1:42 PM.
