“This little girl was very fearful. Petrified it was going to happen again. He already told her it was going to happen again."
Port St. Lucie detective Kristin Meyer Wednesday said it was that fear, plus encouragement from a friend, that spurred a 13-year-old girl to report her alleged abuse at the hands of this man, Wisben Sanon, a corrections deputy for the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation goes back to a May weekend when the teen said she thought she was going to be punished for her behavior at a parade.
“She was tasked with watching her siblings and she had chosen to hang out with friends," said Detective Meyer.
The teen told detectives that she was battered that night, then again the following evening.
It was her willingness to come forward so soon, that helped detectives when it came to securing evidence.
”We have a much higher chance of obtaining evidence. The clothes had not been washed. The evidence was right there," said Meyer.
Sanon was hired by the sheriff’s office in November 2013 as a records clerk. Last May, he became a certified detention deputy.
In a statement, Sheriff Ken Mascara said of Sanon, “His despicable actions should not characterize all members of the law enforcement profession, nor our agency.”
Sanon was arrested Wednesday morning in Fort Pierce while in the middle of a Law Enforcement Academy Class. He’s being held on a $550,000.
During a court hearing Thursday morning, a judge denied Sanon's request to have his bond reduced.
EARLIER STORY:
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Corrections deputy has been arrested and charged with two counts of sexual battery on a child.
Port St. Lucie Police arrested 38-year-old Wisben Sanon today at the Indian River State College Law Enforcement Academy in Fort Pierce.
Sanon was arrested without incident and booked into the St. Lucie County Jail.
He is being held on a $550,000 bond.
St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken J. Mascara made the following statement in regards to the arrest of deputy Sanon:
“The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office takes serious all allegations of employee misconduct and as such has worked closely with the Port St. Lucie Police Department in their investigation. In accordance with Florida Statute, Mr. Sanon is currently on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of our internal investigation. His despicable actions should not characterize all members of the law enforcement profession, nor our agency."
Sheriff Mascara went on to say he was disappointed in Sanon.