ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Two teen boys, who are accused of sexually assaulting an elementary school girl and putting it on video, were arrested with the help of a teacher, deputies said.
The teens are accused of false imprisonment and sexual battery on a child after evidence of the crime was found on students' phones at West Ridge Middle School.
A teacher told deputies about the video that was being shared among students, officials said.
Reports show at least four students received a message on Kik or Snapchat allegedly showing Arnold Almanor, 17, and Christopher Suggs, 14, sexually batter an elementary-aged girl.
"One apparently mature, responsible student tells a teacher, (who) calls the sex crimes unit," Jeff Williamson, of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, said.
Channel 9 first learned about the investigation in April, two days before the teens were arrested. The initial report said a number of male students from the school engaged in sexual misconduct involving a female student from Palmetto Elementary.
Reports also said a witness was present when the suspects take the victim into a restroom.
Almanor is in high school and Suggs attends West Ridge Middle School, but the incident occurred off school grounds.
"The victim is very upset about this, embarrassed by it and truly traumatized by this video being out there and the incident itself," Williamson said.
School leaders said the victim is receiving support from Palmetto staff, and detectives deleted the video from the witnesses' phone, but officials aren't sure how many people saw the video and if a copy still exists.
"Fortunately, the video helped us to apprehend someone, but sadly, horrifically, terribly, this got out for other people to see it," Williamson said.
Detectives haven't charged anyone with disseminating child porn for sharing the video.
Cox Media Group
