Cape man accused of sexual battery
A Cape Coral man has been arrested on a sexual battery charge after he reportedly assaulted a female on a personal watercraft in the Gulf near Fort Myers Beach, authorities.
Derick Acosta, 29, of 2404 N.W. 29th Terrace, was charged Tuesday with one count of second-degree sexual battery on a victim over 12 years of age. The age of the complainant was not available.
According to a report from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Acosta and the
victim met Monday on Fort Myers Beach to take Acosta’s personal watercraft
out on the Gulf for the day. They launched from a boat ramp at Lover’s Key
State Park.
The victim told authorities that they rode on the personal watercraft in the
Gulf until approximately 5 p.m., when she told Acosta that she needed to go
home. He reportedly began driving back toward Lover’s Key, but it seemed as though he was lost.
Acosta found a secluded area on the water and attempted to kiss the victim,
according to the report. She denied Acosta’s attempt, at which point he
pinned her down and molested her, according to the report. The victim told officials she struggled against Acosta, biting his forearm.
Acosta then removed his and the victim’s bathing suit bottoms and sexually
assaulted her, the report states. The victim said she began to cry, he apologized and attempted to justify his actions.
The victim told authorities that they dressed and Acosta drove the
personal watercraft back to the boat ramp. He reportedly asked her a couple
of times if she was going to report him to police, then drove the victim
back to her vehicle.
The victim reported the incident to authorities Tuesday, after which sheriff’s deputies conducted an interview with Acosta with a Spanish-language interpreter present. He does not speak English, the report states.
Acosta was being held Tuesday evening in the Lee County Jail, according to
jail booking records.