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Lakeland Man Faces More Charges In Molestation Case

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 20, 2009

A Lakeland man accused of videotaping himself inappropriately touching an 8-year-old girl faces additional charges today.

Christopher Mauro, 29, initially was charged with charged with lewd and lascivious molestation and two counts of promoting the sexual performance of a child.

Today, he faces two additional counts of lewd molestation, as well as three counts of sexual battery on a child and three counts of battery on a child, according to a Lakeland Police Department news release.

"These additional charges are the result of forensic examination of digital images found in Mauro's home," the release states.

No further information will be released on the case, deputies say.

Mauro was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on Thursday morning.

According to arrest affidavits, Mauro videotaped himself touching the chest of the girl while she stood naked in a bathtub. The video file was found on his computer, affidavits say.

Mauro is also accused of touching an 8-year-old girl in the vaginal area while she was sleeping, affidavits say.

Lakeland police said Mauro's roommate found photographs of a young girl on his computer. Wednesday, the roommate contacted authorities, who then acquired a search warrant.

One of the explicit images was of a Largo child whom Mauro had been babysitting for a few days, Lakeland police said. Authorities tracked down the girl in Largo.

Information from Tribune archives was used in this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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