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Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a deeply troubling development, 74-year-old Paul Philip Foco was taken into custody yesterday, facing seven charges of sexual battery against a minor. The allegations came to light after a child bravely confided in a school official, revealing years of abuse allegedly perpetrated by Foco.
The case unfolded when the young victim opened up to school staff, prompting an immediate investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. The incident was promptly reported to both the Department of Children and Families and the Child Protection Team, who then launched a thorough inquiry into the disturbing allegations.
During an interview conducted by the Child Protection Team, the victim reportedly recounted a harrowing history of abuse, stating that Foco had subjected her to sexual assault repeatedly over a span of approximately seven years. She also shared that Foco had instructed her to keep the abuse a secret.
When approached by law enforcement for questioning, Foco reportedly chose to exercise his right to remain silent, declining to speak with authorities post-Miranda warning.
Foco has been charged with seven counts of sexual battery by a custodian with a victim under the age of 12; the arrest report states that each count represents a year of the victim’s life in which the incidents occurred. He has no local criminal history, and Judge George Wright ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.
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.