A man accused of sexually assaulting a teen with mental disabilities in Fort Lauderdale is facing charges nearly a year the alleged crime.
Paul John, 59, was arrested on Nov. 27 on a sexual battery charge, Broward jail records showed.
According to an arrest report, the incident happened back on Dec. 6 of 2024.
John was driving his Chevrolet Camaro when he approached the teen as he was walking along Northeast 15th Street and East Sunrise Boulevard, the report said.
Detectives said John offered the teen a job to work on his boat and even spoke with the teen’s mom, who told him that her son had a disability so he would need to be patient if he hired him.
John is then accused of taking advantage of that trust, taking the teen back to his home to clean a boat before taking him to a gay strip club and to play pool, police said.
When they returned to John’s house, the teen told detectives that he raped him, the report said.
The teen’s mother said she realized something wasn’t right when her son’s demeanor drastically changed. They took him to the hospital and called police.
Detectives said there are at least eight similar cases involving John.
John appeared before a judge, who ordered him held without bond and ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victim.
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