Son Turns In DCF Worker Accused Of Molesting Child

A man who works for an agency that protects children is charged with hurting one. A Department of Children and Families (DCF) employee in Volusia County is in jail accused of sexually battering a 7-year-old girl.

Eyewitness News learned that the man's son turned him in to police. Although the man arrested, Ronald Thornton, has no criminal history, police say it’s possible the girl is not his first victim.

According to police reports, the 56-year-old DCF employee went over to his son's south Daytona house Saturday to watch a football game. There was a 7-year-old girl there, too, a friend of his granddaughter.

SLIDESHOW: Suspect's Home, Photo WEB LINKS: FDLE Sex Offender Database

"I don't know if it was forcefully. According to the report, he took her by the hand, led her in the bathroom and then he shut the door quickly after she got inside the bathroom," Lieutenant Ron Wright of the South Daytona Police Department said.

Thornton's son saw the bathroom door shut, but Thornton said everything was okay. A minute later, Thornton left the house, making his son suspicious.

"He still suspected something might have happened and he asked [the girl], ‘Did anything happen?’ She said, ‘No.’ Then a short time later she came to him and said, ‘Can you keep a secret?’" Lieutenant Ron Wright said.

Police arrested Thornton Tuesday night at his Port Orange home where neighbors said they recently witnessed a fight over children.

"I don't know if it was the son or another man, scream at him, ‘If you ever touch my kids again I'll beat the heck outta ya!’" neighbor Richard Shaw described.

Thornton was a processor for the Department of Children and Families. He worked with food stamp applications and didn't have direct contact with children.

DCF was closed Wednesday, but the director told Eyewitness News they were taking the case seriously and would review it with attorneys as soon as possible.

Thornton had his first appearance in front of a judge Wednesday morning, who decided to keep him in jail with no bond.