Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – Paul Joseph Bedford II, 20, has been indicted by a Grand Jury for six counts of sexual battery on a 5-year-old and two counts of lewd/lascivious molestation of a 5-year-old.

Bedford was originally arrested in November 2023 on the charges and has been in the Alachua County Jail since that date.

The Grand Jury indictment accuses Bedford of committing sexual battery on a 5-year-old six times between August 20, 2023, and October 28, 2023, by vaginal, anal, and oral penetration, injuring her sexual organs. He is also charged with two counts of lewd/lascivious touching of the child or forcing her to touch him.

Bedford is currently being held without bond, and the State Attorney’s Office has filed notice of its intention to ask a judge to hold him without bail until trial. Six of the charges are Capital Felonies, and two are Life Felonies.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.