Deputies: Lake Co. man accused of molesting child beaten up by member of victim's family

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies said a Lake County man accused of molesting a child under the age of 16 was beaten up by a member of the victim's family.

The fight happened right in front of the Lake County Jail after the accused sex offender, 33-year-old Brian Utterback, bonded out of the Lake County Detention Center on Saturday.

The police report shows it wasn't much of a fight, and witnesses said the accused molester didn't have a chance.

Authorities said when Utterback bonded out about 7:30 p.m., Robert Clark was across the street on the steps of the Lake County courthouse waiting for him.

"When Mr. Utterback got out of jail, Mr. Clark confronted him outside the jail and ended up beating him," said Sgt. Jim Vachon with the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Utterback had been charged with sexually molesting a child under the age of 16, and authorities said Clark is a relative of the alleged victim.

There was apparently nobody around to break up the fight, and officials said it was out of the view of deputies inside the jail.

Detectives said the alleged sexual battery took place over a period of time and they have specific dates for when the abuse occurred.

As for Clark, his lawyer advised him not to speak publicly about what happened outside the jail.

The record of his arrest shows Utterback was bleeding, bruised and swollen but refused treatment at the scene.

"Near as we can tell, Mr. Clark was notified Mr. Utterback was getting out of jail, and he came down here and confronted him," Vachon said.

Utterback goes back in front of a judge on July 29 for the accused sex crime. Clark goes to court the same day. The Sheriff's Office said it will likely be at different times, to keep them separated.

WFTV