A prominent assistant professor at Florida A&M University has been charged in the alleged sexual abuse of a minor that investigators said went on for years.
Gari Tookes, 36, was arrested Thursday on charges of sexual battery, lewd and lascivious battery and lewd and lascivious molestation, according to court records.
The Sheriff's Office said it got information about a sexual battery in late February from the Department of Families and Children. The state agency advised it received a report through the state hotline detailing the sexual abuse and battery of a minor.
"Through investigative means, LCSO Violent Crimes detectives learned Tookes had criminal sexual contact with the victim for several years prior to the report," the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. "Detectives also learned Tookes had communicated through text messages about the sexual contact with the victim, which corroborated the victim’s initial report."