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Police: Sex offender living illegally in Casselberry neighborhood touches young girl

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A registered sex offender is accused of lying about where he lived and inappropriately touching a girl in a neighborhood he was not allowed to be living in.

For years, police said Stacy Mercer claimed to be homeless and living out of his car at the intersection of Silver Star Road and Orange Blossom Trail in Orange County.

But it was discovered he was secretly living in a Casselberry home.

Mercer was arrested in Seminole County in 2012 on child pornography charges.

Mercer, who was already labeled a sex offender from a past conviction in New Jersey for a sexual assault in 2006, was ultimately found adjudicated guilty by the court in the child pornography case.

Every time he moves, he must register his address with authorities.

According to Casselberry police, Mercer attempted to register the Casselberry address, which is his sister’s home, in 2010, 2012 and 2015, but was denied each time because it is located within 1,000 feet of a playground.

Over the years, he listed the Orlando Rescue Mission as his permanent address, but most recently, used the intersection.

Since 2015, Mercer claimed to be homeless, and listed an intersection as an address.

He went to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 21 to confirm his address and claimed he slept in his car behind a gas station at the intersection.

Mercer was not under supervision at the time. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in an email, “Offenders are required to update their status. Unfortunately, it can get challenging to locate them at times, we have so many sex offenders and many being homeless.”

Since 2015, Mercer claimed to be homeless, and listed an intersection as an address.

He went to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 21 to confirm his address and claimed he slept in his car behind a gas station at the intersection.

But police said he actually was living in a trailer in Casselberry.

His neighbors told police Mercer called himself “Warren” and lived there for at least eight years.

They were unaware of his past, and unaware of what he is accused of doing to a young girl in the neighborhood.

"He would always walk the streets,” said a resident, who was not identified. “That's awful. I mean, I got three small children myself and I don't want anything like that to happen to my children."

Jeff Levkulich

Jeff Levkulich, WFTV.com

Jeff Levkulich joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in June 2015.