Staff report

WALDO, Fla. – Jeffrey Lamar Becker, 39, was arrested on December 19, 2024, and charged with sexual battery on a child over the age of 12; a second victim has now come forward, adding four counts of sexual battery on a victim under the age of 12, all capital felonies, and one count of lewd/lascivious molestation on a child under 12.

In separate forensic interviews, both children reportedly said that the abuse began well before puberty and continued for about four to six years. The alleged incidents occurred over a span of time that goes back over a decade and continued until December 2024.

Becker was arrested for child abuse in March 2022 for allegedly choking a child, but the charge was later dropped. On December 27, Judge David Kreider granted a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold Becker without bail until trial on the December charge, and a formal charge has been filed in that case. The State Attorney’s office has also filed notice that it intends to request that Becker be held without bail in the second case.

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.