ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) — A 26-year-old man who was interviewing for a police officer job has been convicted of sexually abusing a minor nearly 10 years ago.
The Florida State Attorney’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit announced that a jury found Stephen Bodley guilty on May 8 of sexual battery on a child less than 12 by a person less than 18. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24.
According to an affidavit, on June 16, 2021, Bodley was interviewing for a police officer job with the Apopka Police Department. During the pretest interview, Bodley reportedly admitted that when he was around 12 to 13 years old, he would “play sex games” with a minor, and she “didn’t fully understand what was happening.”
The affidavit says Bodley told officials the girl was approximately 9 or 10 years old at the time. When asked what sex games meant, Bodley reportedly said he “pulled his penis out, then he switched to explain the first time it happened was an ‘accident.'”
According to the affidavit, Bodley said he “was going to his room naked and she was laughing and then she put her mouth on it (referring to his penis).” This allegedly gave the defendant the idea to “play this game.”
On June 18, 2021, the victim and her mother reportedly met with police. The victim’s mother told officials she had known Bodley since he was a baby, but she was unaware of these incidents. She believed he had a “normal familial relationship” with her daughter.
During an initial interview, the victim reportedly became “visibly emotional” and said she couldn’t remember anything. She alleged she and Bodley were close. The detective on the case reportedly observed “several indicators and statements of being a victim of sexual abuse” while speaking with the woman.
According to the affidavit, the victim was interviewed again and said she had been in Bodley’s room when she was young and she “did not process it at the time” because of her age. Bodley allegedly began kissing her on her body and “took his penis out and stuck it in her mouth.” Afterward, she reportedly “blacked out.” The victim told detectives this occurred multiple times in Bodley’s room.
According to the state attorney’s office, Bodley was called back to the police department, and detectives took him into custody. During his trial, Bodley reportedly denied sexually abusing the victim even though he had already admitted to the crimes multiple times.
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