Zephyrhills man arrested for meeting 16-year-old Gainesville girl for sex

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Christopher F. Reteneller, 41, of Zephyrhills, has been charged with seven felonies related to meeting a 16-year-old Gainesville girl for sex on multiple occasions.

The victim reportedly came forward on April 7 to report that Reteneller had traveled from Zephyrhills to Gainesville on March 29 and April 7 to engage in sexual intercourse with her.

The victim reportedly said that she met Reteneller on a chat website, and they exchanged phone numbers and began exchanging text messages. On March 29, Reteneller allegedly drove to Gainesville, picked up the victim at a bus stop near her home, took her to McDonald’s, and bought her food. He then parked his car and started kissing the victim before driving to an unknown church and allegedly engaging in sexual intercourse with the victim in the church parking lot.

On April 7, Reteneller reportedly drove to Gainesville again and picked up the victim near her home; he allegedly took the victim to an unknown church again, and they engaged in sexual activities.

Reteneller reportedly took the victim to Popeyes and bought her a sandwich, and then they went to Depot Park and walked on the trail before driving to TB McPherson, where Reteneller allegedly tried to have sexual intercourse with the victim in the bathroom, but it hurt her.

The victim said she asked him to stop, but he continued, and she tried multiple times to leave the bathroom, but he kept pulling her back; she eventually escaped and told Reteneller that she was 16 because she was upset that he had not stopped. The Gainesville Police Department officer who investigated the case noted that the victim looks younger than 16, “and any reasonable person would not believe that she was over the age of 18.” The victim said that when she told Reteneller her age, he said they would need to keep their relationship on the “down low.”

Reteneller allegedly drove the victim to an apartment complex near her house, which she was able to describe to the officer, and he again tried to have sexual intercourse with her. Next, he reportedly drove her to a gas station, where they got into the back seat of his car; he allegedly raped her while she repeatedly asked him to stop and tried to push him away, but he said he just wanted to finish.

After Reteneller drove the victim home, he reportedly sent her a text and told her he was sorry.

A medical exam reportedly showed that the victim had significant injuries that are consistent with sexual abuse.

The officer used Reteneller’s phone number and description to identify him, and traffic cameras reportedly showed that his vehicle was in the locations described by the victim at the time of the incidents; the officer noted that Reteneller has no ties to Gainesville, and his vehicle has not been seen on local traffic cameras except for those two dates.

Reteneller has been charged with four counts of sexual battery with a victim under 18, two counts of traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual contact, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device. He is being 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.