St. Petersburg Man Arrested For Suspected Child Molestation

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL – A St. Petersburg man was arrested Monday for allegedly sexually molesting a child over three years in Pinellas County, according to authorities.

Ronnie O'Brian Charles Kasten II, 29, was arrested on suspicion of sexual battery and lewd and lascivious molestation of a minor by Crimes Against Children Unit detectives of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

The child, now 13, disclosed to relatives that the alleged abuse occurred on multiple occasions beginning in 2014, when the victim was 11 years old, officials said. A family member contacted law enforcement on Sunday.

Deputies said the child "was known" to Kasten, but did not provide details on their connection or specifics on where the reported molestation occurred.

Kasten was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident, deputies said, adding that he was charged with one count of alleged sexual battery and one count of alleged lewd and lascivious molestation.

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--Image via Pinellas County Sheriff