Man faces charges in Manatee County child sex abuse case. It goes back decades
A man accused of sexually abusing two young girls in Palmetto nearly three decades ago is facing long-pending felony charges in Manatee County, court records show.
Richard Carr, 60, is charged with two capital felony counts of sexual battery on a child younger than 12 and one life felony count of lewd or lascivious molestation after prosecutors secured his transfer from an Illinois prison, according to court records.
An attorney representing Carr did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment.
Investigators said Carr repeatedly sexually abused a 4-year-old for several years beginning around 1998 until the time she was 12, while also abusing her 7-year-old sister.
Man charged in Manatee County sex abuse case
During an interview, one of the girls told detectives the abuse would occur when their mother wasn’t home. She said Carr would send the other girl away while calling her to his bedroom, according to an arrest report.
The investigation began in 2013 after Illinois detectives contacted the Palmetto Police Department, according to an arrest report. During an interview with the Peoria Police Department in Illinois, detectives said Carr admitted to sexually abusing both children while they lived in Palmetto. In one interview, investigators said Carr also admitted to sexually abusing other victims in Florida.
Court records show prosecutors filed charges in Manatee County the following year, but Carr remained in prison in Illinois on a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child before being transferred to Florida this year.
Child abuse case goes to court in Manatee County
Court records also show Carr filed several handwritten requests from prison between late 2023 and early 2024 seeking a speedy trial and asking the court to reject the Florida warrant. A judge denied those requests.
Carr appeared in Manatee County court and pleaded not guilty on June 24, demanding a jury trial, according to court records. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 19 before Circuit Judge D. Ryan Felix.
