Man charged with battery, molestation of girl, 12
BRADENTON (AP) – A Florida man has been charged with multiple sex crimes in connection with the case of a 12-year-old girl whose disappearance sparked an statewide Amber Alert on Sunday.
The 12-year-old girl ran away from her family’s Tampa Bay home Saturday after getting into an argument with her grandmother. Witnesses saw her get into a red Jeep driven by a middle-aged man who pulled over.
The child told authorities that Kenneth R. Ross took her back to his residence, gave her whiskey, watched pornographic movies and had sex with her. She was dropped off near her home Sunday afternoon.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office says the 46-year-old admitted to the crimes.
The Associated Press generally does not identify alleged victims of sexual abuse.