Danny Vargas has been found guilty as charged of two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation and Familial or Custodial Sexual Battery.
The jury returned the guilty verdict, following a four-day trial in Lee County. Assistant State Attorney Anastasia Snetkova prosecuted the case.
The case started on March 2, 2020, when Lee County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers (SROs) helped find a student who had run away from home. After being located, the student told officers about sexual abuse that happened at the student’s home. The Fort Myers Police Department was contacted, as the residence was in their jurisdiction, and officers responded to the school to take over the investigation.
A second student reached out to law enforcement as well after learning from the victim why they ran away. The victim told the other student that they ran away because the defendant said he wanted sexual favors from them after school.
The investigation revealed that the defendant engaged in sexual contact and sexual activity with the child victim between 2013 and 2019 in Lee County. Officers found text messages showing that the defendant messaged the victim immediately before the victim ran away, requesting sexual videos and asking to keep the interactions a secret.
When law enforcement officers went to arrest the defendant, he was found in a home, hiding under a bed.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 16, 2024.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office