Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Albert Edward Lester, 45, was arrested last night and charged with sexual battery on a 17-year-old girl whose mental capacity is described as “equal to that of a 7-year-old.”

The alleged incident took place at about 2:30 a.m. on July 22 when the victim was outside her house while her guardian reportedly checked on her periodically. While the victim was outside alone, Lester reportedly began talking to her about school and placed a chair for her next to his car. The victim told staff at the Child Advocacy Center that Lester asked her, “Do you want me to do something to you?”

The victim said that Lester asked her to touch his private parts, exposed himself to her, put his penis in her face, and tried to get her to perform oral sex, but she said no. She said he touched her under her shirt and underwear, then pushed her to the ground and got on top of her. She said she tried to push him off, but he climbed back on her and had sexual intercourse with her.

The victim’s guardian said the victim was outside from about 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. that night because she “threw a fit wanting to be outside.” The guardian said she was “continually” watching her on the security cameras and also went outside to check on the victim. At one point between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., she said she went outside and saw the victim in the parking lot outside her house, in a chair between two cars. She said she saw Lester stand up, pull his pants up, and walk away. She said the victim later told her that Lester took out his penis and told her to touch it and suck it.

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The guardian called law enforcement yesterday to say she saw Lester, and a Gainesville Police Department officer found him in front of the house. The victim reportedly identified Lester as the man who touched her. When Lester was arrested, he reportedly spontaneously stated that he did not touch the victim.

Post Miranda, Lester reportedly denied touching the victim in any way. He said that when he came home from work around 4 a.m. a few days ago, he saw the victim outside and that she is always outside and kicked out of her house. He said the victim was by the road where it is unsafe, so he brought her a chair and put it in front of her house, where there are security cameras, then brought her some water. He denied having any physical or sexual contact with the victim and told officers to check the cameras.

The officer reported that the cameras were checked, and there is a camera facing the driveway; Lester was reportedly not seen on the camera at any point bringing a chair for the victim in front of the house or bringing the victim water.

Lester has six local misdemeanor convictions (none violent). Bail information is unavailable.

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.