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Lakeland Police: 43-Year-Old Man Touched Girl Inappropriately

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By JOSH POLTILOVE and AMERICA DEUPREE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 10, 2008

Michael Lester Hendricks

TAMPA - Lakeland police say a 43-year-old man committed lewd and lascivious acts on an 8-year-old.

Michael Lester Hendricks touched the girl inappropriately, forced her to touch him and threatened her not to tell anyone by saying that he would get her in trouble by telling her father that she had been bad, an arrest report states.

Lakeland police arrested Hendricks on Wednesday in Bartow.

Hendricks, of 508 E. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland, had been planning to move to New York, said Sgt. Gary Gross, supervisor of the department's crimes against children unit.

Hendricks was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim younger than 12.

He also was charged with tampering with a victim.

Hendricks and his girlfriend lived near the girl, according to Gross. The child told a babysitter about the incident, and the babysitter told the girl's parents.

The acts occurred two months ago and were reported to police July 1, a Lakeland police news release states.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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