New Port Richey Man Accused Of Inappropriately Touching Child

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement have arrested a New Port Richey man accused of inappropriately touching a youngster.

Rame Thomas Baetens, 37, of New Port Richey, was charged with one count of lewd and lascivious conduct on a person under 16 years of age, one count of online solicitation of a minor, four counts of transmission of material harmful to a minor and one count of illegal use of a two-way communications device, all felonies.

The FDLE began investigating Baetens at the request of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, which had been contacted by the victim. FDLE agents learned that Baetens had inappropriately touched the minor victim, who he personally knew, on multiple occasions while on vacation in Pensacola, according to the FDLE.

The FDLE also said Baetens sent numerous sexually suggestive images and messages to the victim via the Snapchat.

Baetens was arrested and booked into the Escambia County Jail on $160,000 bond. The Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit, will prosecute this case.