Gainesville man charged with raping pre-teen girl, threatening to kill her and her family if she told anyone
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dakari Sterling, 37, was arrested yesterday and charged with sexual battery on a victim under 12, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting arrest without violence.
While getting the victim ready for school on August 12, a family member became concerned about the victim and asked whether someone had touched her; after repeatedly denying that anything had happened, the victim reportedly said Sterling had sexually battered her. The family member took the victim to the UF Health Shands Pediatric Emergency Room.
During a forensic interview, the victim reportedly said that Sterling had stayed with her while her family member was at work, and one evening, he pulled her into a bedroom, closed and locked the door while she screamed and tried to fight back, and sexually battered her. When he was finished, she tried to run out of the room, but he picked up a knife, pointed it at her, and said he would kill her and her family if she told anyone what had happened.
When officers located Sterling, he reportedly refused to go with them and had to be subdued before he could be placed in a patrol vehicle.
An officer reported that a post-Miranda interview was attempted, but no information could be gathered due to “an insurmountable communication barrier.” Previous court documents indicate that Sterling communicates via sign language.
Sterling was previously arrested in 2006 and charged with simple battery; he successfully completed a Mental Health Court program, and the charge was not prosecuted.
Judge Kristine Van Vorst ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial.
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.
Something doesn’t make sense. How did he threaten her if he only communicates via sign language? Can he not read or write? If not, how were his Miranda rights communicated to him? If he can, why couldn’t he be questioned via written communication? Very glad to see a judge actually order someone held without bail. If he DID commit that atrocity, he should get the death penalty.
Thanks, added a clarification that a post-Miranda interview was attempted. There is no indication that the Miranda rights were successfully communicated or acknowledged.
There are people that can hear but not speak other than with signing. In the photo it appears he has a hearing aid so it may be that he can hear enough to understand
He most definitely can talk, sounds like a toddler, but he’ll curse you out in a quickness. Trust he’s far from a saint he knows exactly what’s going on.
He can to talk he just talks with a little accent as if it’s a slur,he is slick and nasty and they should have been locked his ass up.
I never know you could be that desperate to do that to a child.your not getting out for a long time
boil him in acid
Seems too kind
This guy can talk. I remember him always riding the #5 bus on weekends and standing up front next to the driver like he worked for RTS. Strange dude.
He’s lost weight. I do remember him standing the entire route, talking to the driver.
What a sick bastard He probably attends Ignite Life Center on his free time
Prison for life. At least.
FluSH IT!
Ole nasty dog
Cory can hear and talk even tho his speech is not good but I just hope he didn’t do this
why would a person under 12 go out the way to make a lie over something that’s so common, even from people you don’t expect
The one time when you need the cops to beat someone they don’t jump at the opportunity
Use old Apache method for bad people. Bury person standing up to neck line. Apply honey ( or like sugary substance) about face and eyes of bad person.
Sit back and wait for screaming to start.
3 STEPS…
1-TAKE SUPER GLUE…APLY A GOOD AMOUNT ON HIS PRIVATE PARTS
2-WAIT UNTILL DRY
3-PROCEDURE TO PROVOKE EXCITEMENT
How us that resisting without violence??? Hope he rots
The mom should known not to leave her 12 year old daughter alone with corie and he was unstable..she should be questioning all so…
Corie can’t hear to good and is mentally impair
He didn’t have no business alone with a 12 year old first of all.something is not adding up question the. Adult.all so.this is crazy..