14 years later, man faces judge on Orange County child sex abuse charges

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — John Joseph Sweeney, confined to a wheelchair and flanked by his attorney, faced an Orange County judge this week, some 14 years after he was charged with sexually abusing three children.

Sweeney, 71, is accused of charming his way into a trusting relationship with a local family and abusing their three children, then aged between 4 and 8, police records showed.

Known as “Uncle Blondie” to the children, Sweeney fled the state before he could be arrested on the Orange County charges.

He had gone to New Hampshire, where he subsequently spent 10 years in prison on unrelated child sex abuse charges.

When he was paroled in New Hampshire and moved to Arkansas, a parole officer realized he was wanted in Central Florida.

Sweeney was brought back to Orange County where he faces 10 counts of sexual battery of a child younger than 12.

He has another court hearing on April 5.

In the meantime, he was being held without bond at the Orange County Jail.

Cox Media Group