Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ricardo A. Martin, 38, has been charged with three counts of lewd/lascivious molestation and one count of attempted lewd/lascivious molestation on a victim under the age of 12; he was reportedly babysitting the victim and her siblings during the alleged incidents.

According to a Gainesville Police Department Detective’s report, Martin allegedly touched the child inappropriately over a period of about two years, when the child was between seven and nine years old. Martin was reportedly a childhood friend of the victim’s father and has been homeless since he moved to Gainesville; the victim’s parents reportedly allowed him to stay at their house on multiple occasions, and he would often “babysit” their children. The detective noted that Martin was documented as a “babysitter” of the children in previous Department of Children and Families and law enforcement reports, and the children have referred to him as their babysitter. The victim’s father reportedly also referred to Martin as someone who “babysat” the children.

The victim’s family has now moved away from Gainesville, and the victim reportedly told authorities in their new location that Martin touched her inappropriately while babysitting her. The victim also reportedly said that when the family lived in Gainesville, she told her parents that Martin touched her inappropriately, and they kicked Martin out of their home.

Martin, whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has two felony convictions (non-violent) and nine misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he was on probation or pre-trial release during some of the alleged “babysitting” incidents, and he is currently on probation. He is being held without bail because Judge Phillip Pena granted a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him 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.