Former Florida professor faces child sex charges; more victims possible, investigators say
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. —
A former Miami Dade College professor of political science accused of raping a missing 15-year-old girl has been arrested for the second time in the matter after his DNA was found in a sexual-assault kit, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Richard Tapia, 46, of Palm Coast, was first arrested July 22 by deputies responding to a Palm Coast hotel, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
After the child’s mother had reported her runaway daughter was at the Microtel on Kingswood Drive with an adult man, the 15-year-old was found leaving the hotel through a back stairwell while Tapia was located exiting through the front lobby, the release states.
“During the investigation, detectives determined that Tapia had met the victim through an online app, picked up the victim in Jacksonville and drove her to Palm Coast. The victim disclosed to deputies that Tapia had raped her multiple times at the hotel,” the sheriff’s office said.
Tapia was initially arrested to face charges of interference with child custody while a sexual assault investigation was launched, according to the release.
Following a forensic analysis of Tapia’s cellphone, forensic interviews, and testing of a sexual assault kit via the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a capias was issued Sept. 22 for Tapia’s arrest on three counts of lewd or lascivious battery on a victim between the ages of 12 and 16, the release states.
Tapia was arrested in Palm Beach County and has since been transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he was being held on a $350,000 bond at the time of this writing, the sheriff’s office said.
“It’s a disgusting situation with a pervert, unfortunately it’s a prime example of how people online groom our children so they can later sexually assault them,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. “He sexually assaulted her three times and so once we got all the evidence, the DNA match of his DNA back from the FDLE lab, we were able to obtain arrest warrants for three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child between the ages of 12 and 15.”
Believing there may be other victims in the case, the sheriff’s office encouraged anyone with information on Tapia to contact it by calling 386-393-4911.