Staff report

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Robert Jacob Wilkerson, 51, was arrested on September 9 for sexual battery and lewd or lascivious molestation of a young girl.

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the case in June 2024 after the case was originally reported in another county but it was determined that the incidents took place in Alachua County. The victim was in preschool when the incidents began, and they allegedly took place over several years; the allegations came to light when the victim disclosed to a physician that she had been sexually abused when she was younger.

The victim said Wilkerson allegedly touched her in her “private areas” and once took her clothes off; she said she was sometimes alone in the car with Wilkerson and felt pressured to say she loved him. She said Wilkerson told her he would hurt her if she told anyone about the incidents.

A detective spoke to Wilkerson, a long-distance truck driver, on the phone in December 2024. Wilkerson reportedly confirmed that he had known the victim but denied ever touching her improperly. A sworn complaint was filed in January, and a warrant for Wilkerson’s arrest was issued on August 14.

Two siblings of the victim reportedly corroborated parts of her story.

Wilkerson has been charged with sexual battery of a victim under the age of 12 and lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim under the age of 12. Wilkerson has a series of charges for traffic offenses, domestic battery, and worthless checks from 2002 to 2009, with five misdemeanor convictions. At a hearing yesterday, Judge Robert Groeb ordered him held without bail until trial.

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.