Man Charged In Sexual Assault On Toddler

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 50-year-old man faces criminal charges after St. Petersburg Police say he was caught sexually assaulting a little girl.

According to the agency, the incident unfolded around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. The 3-year-old girl’s mother walked into her daughter’s bedroom and reportedly found her boyfriend performing a sex act on the child.

The mother called out to her teenage son for help, an email from the police department said. The teen rushed into the room and wrestled the man to the floor. Police say the man bit the teen before running to a nearby home.

As the commotion ensued, the mother called police.

Bernard Jones was brought into custody a short time later and has since been charged with capital sexual battery, aggravated battery and lewd and lascivious molestation on a child under 12.

Jones is a registered sex offender. He was previously convicted in Miami-Dade County for an assault on another child under the age of 12. Jones was being held at the Pinellas County Jail Wednesday morning. Bond had not yet been set.

Booking photo courtesy of the St. Petersburg Police Department