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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A registered sexual predator is back behind bars following new allegations that he molested a 13-year-old, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
Keith Leroy Cole, 46, is believed to have had “inappropriate physical contact” with the teen while he was visiting a home on Easter Sunday, according to investigators.
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Keith Leroy Cole (Credit: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)
The teen reported the incident to school staff, who in turn, notified law enforcement.
Deputies said they found enough evidence to arrest Cole following an investigation into the allegations. He’s facing charges for lewd or lascivious molestation involving a victim between 12 and 15 years old.
Cole remained behind bars Monday with a $15,000 bond, per jail records.
Records from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement show he was convicted of a similar offense in 2019: sexual battery by an adult on a victim between 12 and 17 years old.
Cole was required to register as a sexual predator, rather than a sexual offender, which, in Florida, indicates that a person has committed a serious felony sex crime.
“This predator took advantage of a child’s trust, and that will not be tolerated in our community,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “We are committed to protecting victims and ensuring those who prey on minors are held accountable.”
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