A Florida man has been arrested after an investigation at a group home led investigators to uncover multiple child sexual abuse victims.
On July 6, 2022, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) received a delayed sex offense complaint involving multiple juveniles who reside at a group home in Palm Coast.
During the initial investigation, evidence was uncovered indicating this case involved human trafficking. Major Case Master Detective LaVerne and Detective First Class Butler were assigned the case and during the investigation, it was determined that Peter James Strickland, age 32, of Palm Coast was soliciting sex acts from juvenile females who were possibly as young as 13 years old.
Strickland would entice the victims by offering them multiple items of value in exchange for the sexual activity and that he would also video record the sexual encounters.
Through investigative techniques, detectives were able to obtain enough evidence to obtain multiple search warrants and an arrest warrant for Strickland. On July 28, 2022, Detectives LaVerne and Butler conducted an interview with Peter at his place of employment, Palm Coast Utilities.
During the interview, Strickland admitted to having sexual relations with the victims about 15 times over the past two years. The victim’s ages ranged from 13 to 17 years of age. Strickland admitted to providing the victim’s with items of value in exchange for the sexual activity and confirmed he had video recorded some of the sexual encounters.
Detectives served a search warrant at Strickland’s 30 Bassett Lane, Palm Coast residence to recover additional evidence. With the assistance of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. team, FCSO Major Case detectives, the FCSO Digital Forensics Unit and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office Electronics Detection K-9 conducted an intensive search of Strickland’s residence where dozens of items were located and seized for further analysis.
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“This was great work by our Major Case Unit and our Digital Forensics Unit for finding the evidence that got this pervert and human trafficker off the streets,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Anyone who takes away a child’s innocence deserves to be behind bars forever. I hope this arrest will allow some closure to the victims and they are able to get the help they need. And to anyone who thinks they’ll get away with preying on our children, here’s the reminder that we will not stop until you’re arrested and unable to hurt another child ever again! I would also like to thank Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, specifically their electronics sniffing K-9 for helping us locate the evidence.”
“I am glad the Sheriff’s Office was able to stop him,” said Mayor David Alfin. “It is unfortunate that he was a utility worker but to our knowledge he did not do any of this disgusting behavior while working. I have faith in the Sheriff’s investigation and that the criminal justice system will hold him accountable.
Strickland was arrested for Unlawful Sexual Activity with Certain Minors (2nd degree felony) and is being held under a $100,000 bond at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.
The investigation is on-going and additional charges are pending. If anyone knows of or believes they were victimized by Strickland please call the FCSO at 386-313-4911.
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