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Tampa Man Charged With Sexual Battery On 4-Year-Old Girl

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2008

Thomas Cochran

TAMPA - In April, a 4-year-old girl told her parents she was sexually assaulted by Thomas Cochran, 43, a man who was babysitting her, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

The parents then went to deputies, who started an investigation, according to sheriff's office spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

Cochran initially refused to cooperate, but deputies eventually were able to obtain DNA evidence from him in June, Carter said.

The DNA test recently came back with a match to DNA found on the girl, and Cochran, listed in jail records as an underwriter for the mortgage lending firm Taylor, Bean & Whitaker, was arrested at 3 p.m. Thursday at his office, 3915 N. Premier Drive.

A person answering the phone at his home declined comment. Cochran's attorney, Mark Hershock, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Cochran, of 11225 Bramblebrush St., was charged with sexual battery on a victim younger than 12. He is being held at the Orient Road Jail. No bail has been set.

Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com.

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