- April 18, 2024
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Deputies arrested 70-year-old Palm Coast resident James McIntire Jan. 13 on a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation of a 15-year-old girl.
McIntire admitted to the crime in an interview with Flagler County Sheriff's Office detectives, according to an arrest affidavit.
The investigation began on Aug. 28, 2020, when a family member of the victim told the Sheriff's Office that the victim had been molested between June and November of the previous year, while the victim was living in McIntire's house.
The victim kept a diary detailing the multiple instances in which McIntire touched her sexually or offered her alcoholic drinks. She later told family members — including her mother, who revealed that, 27 years before, McIntire had molested the mother as well, but that she hadn't believed that he would also molest her daughter.
The mother told McIntire's wife and another family member, who confronted him. McIntire admitted to the crimes, then packed up his belongings and left for several weeks, according to the arrest affidavit.
A First Coast Child Protection Team case coordinator interviewed the 15-year-old victim on Sept. 30, 2020, and the victim related multiple instances of McIntire touching her breasts or buttocks, trying to kiss her, offering her alcohol and repeatedly sending her text messages saying that she was beautiful.
Detectives interviewed McIntire at his home on Dec. 16, 2020. When a detective told him they were there to talk about the victim, McIntire "immediately looked worried and understood what [the detective] was referring to," according to the arrest affidavit.
McIntire "said he had researched Florida State Statute and was prepared for getting arrested," according to the arrest affidavit. He related specific instances in which he'd touched the victim on her breasts and buttocks.
An arrest warrant was signed for McIntire on Jan. 13, 2021, and deputies arrested him.
He was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility at 2:11 p.m. on Jan. 13 and released at 5:05 p.m. the same day on a $50,000 bond, according to county jail records.
“Often these are difficult cases to make, and I am very proud of our investigative team for building the case and arresting him before he could hurt this child any further,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in an FCSO news release. “It is sickening that he would take advantage of this child while she was living in his house without her mother present. I hope this child is able to get the help she needs to recover, as crimes like this can have lifelong effects.”
