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March 10, 2005
Man jailed for allegedly molesting 3 children in Hollywood area
Hollywood, Fl. -- Police arrested a 48-year-old man Tuesday on charges of preying on defenseless children, repeatedly molesting a blind boy with cerebral palsy and attacking another child in a leg cast.
In all, police say, the former North Miami Beach man sexually assaulted at least three children between the ages of 8 and 15. Investigators expect the list to grow.
"This investigation will unequivocally lead us to additional victims," said police spokesman Capt. Tony Rode.
Police charged the man, Edward Devine, with seven counts of molesting a person under 12, and one count of sexual battery on a victim between the ages of 12 and 18. He is being held without bail at the Broward County Jail.
The abuse took place at a home in west Hollywood, Rode said, and all the victims know each other. Police did not identify any of the victims.
In one instance, Devine made the blind boy swim naked in a pool, where he molested him, according to a police report. In another, Devine attacked the boy in the cast while he was taking a bath and holding his broken leg outside the tub, the report shows.
The third victim, a girl, Devine molested between Christmas Day and New Year's Day 2004, the report shows.
One of the children told a parent, Rode said. That parent warned other parents, and then went to police.
On Tuesday, Devine voluntarily went to police headquarters, made a statement and was arrested, Rode said.
Devine had been arrested four times before in Florida, records show. He was convicted of resisting arrest, battery and other crimes, none of which involved children or sex.
Police said Devine did not have a current permanent address.
Posted by Nealus at March 10, 2005 03:20 PM
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