28-Year-Old Accused Of Sex With Teen Arrested By Winter Haven Police

Editor's note: As of August 21, 2024, the defendant was found guilty of one count of committing an unnatural and lascivious act and is required to have no contact with the victim or the victim's mother. He was found not guilty of the additional charges listed in our report.

WINTER HAVEN, FL — A 28-year-old Winter Haven man is facing felony charges after Winter Haven police said he had multiple sexual encounters with a 17-year-old.

Adalberto Badillo of Salisbury Drive was taken into custody on Feb. 8, at his workplace following an investigation that started when the mother of the victim reported the encounters.

Badillo first met the victim on Jan. 10 at her fast-food job. While in the drive-thru, police said he began to compliment her on her looks and asked for her social media information.

Police said they began having conversations through social media and, on multiple occasions, Badillo would visit the victim at the drive-thru, arriving during her scheduled breaks and meeting in his car for encounters that led to sex.

On Jan. 16, Badillo drove her to his home for a sexual encounter, according to police.

When the teen's mother learned of the relationship, she called Badillo on his phone and he admitted that he was aware of the teen's age. Nevertheless, police said he continued to pursue the teen.

On Jan. 24, Badillo purchased a Tracfone for the victim so they could talk and arranged to meet the teen in his car on Jan. 26 and 27 during her work breaks.

When Winter Haven police detectives learned about the contact, they interviewed the teen who said Badillo told her to say they are "only friends" if asked about their relationship.

Detectives took Badillo into custody, charging him with six counts of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual conduct, three counts of sexual activity by a person 24 or older with a victim 16 or 17 years old, three counts of lewd battery, six counts of use of two-way communication to commit a felony and one count of witness tampering.

He was booked into the Polk County Jail where he remains on $121,000 bond.