TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The suspect in a high-speed car chase through Leon County last month is now facing unrelated child sexual battery charges, according to court documents.
Zachary Read, 36, allegedly drove a car through Tallahassee one afternoon and hit several vehicles as he tried to evade law enforcement, per previous reporting.
The suspect in a high-speed car chase through Leon County last month is now facing unrelated child sexual battery charges, according to court documents.(Leon County Jail)
Read was taken into custody following the chase and charged with felony fleeing/eluding, driving with a suspended license and eight counts of leaving the scene of a crash.
The man is now accused of sexual battery with a child over 12 years old but under 18 years old and lewd or lascivious battery. Court documents say that the victim and Read were known to each other before she broke contact due to concerns for her safety.
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The victim claimed Read groomed her and “would manipulate her into staying with him.” Law enforcement detectives took DNA samples from a pair of shorts worn by the victim during the alleged battery that matched Read.
The charges were signed yesterday and the suspect has remained in jail since last month.
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