Gainesville man arrested for allegedly molesting 5-year-old girl

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tony “Travis” Slater, 44, was arrested yesterday for allegedly touching the genitals of a five-year-old girl.

On May 24, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (SAO) received a report that the victim disclosed that she was inappropriately touched by Slater when she was five years old.

In a forensic interview, the victim reportedly told the Child Protection Team that Slater had touched and rubbed her “pee pee,” with his hand under her undergarment. An ASO detective reported that the victim’s statements remained consistent from the initial disclosure to the forensic interview.

On June 11, Slater reportedly went to ASO Headquarters to participate in a voluntary interview, and post Miranda, he denied inappropriately touching the victim and said he had simply readjusted her because she was sleeping in an uncomfortable position. He denied touching her under her undergarment and said he never touched her genitals.

Slater reportedly attributed the victim’s allegations to “her having some form of sexual fantasy about him or belief that she was in a ‘secret relationship’ with him.” He reportedly alleged that the victim “has a sexual drive,” but other witnesses reportedly said his statements were untrue and that the victim had never demonstrated any sexual behaviors.

Slater has been charged with lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim under the age of 12. His only local criminal history is a conviction for driving without a valid license in 2006. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.