Clearwater Man Accused of Sexually Abusing Young Girl

A 58-year-old Clearwater man faces a number of criminal charges after Pinellas County deputies say he sexually battered a young girl.

The case against Joseph Stefanski Jr. began to unfold in July when the child, now 8, told her grandmother about the alleged sexual misconduct, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media. Deputies say the abuse occurred while the girl was in Stefanki’s care and took place starting when she was 5 and ended when she was 7.

Stefanski was brought into custody on Wednesday. He faces one count of capital sexual battery and three counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child under 12. Stefanski was being held in the Pinellas County Jail Thursday in lieu of $250,000 bond.

The investigation remains active, deputies noted.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office