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.
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A Florida A&M University assistant professor was arrested on charges of alleged sexual abuse of a male minor that continued for years, investigators said.
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 Leon County Sheriff’s Office received information on Feb. 23 from the Florida Department of Children and Families about an alleged sexual battery, according to a press release Thursday.
Investigators with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes division discovered that Tookes had criminal sexual contact with the victim for several years before the February report.
Tallahassee man arrested in child molestation investigation
and last updated 2021-04-30 11:56:15-04
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) â The Leon County Sheriff s Office arrested 36-year-old Gari Tookes, an assistant professor of sociology at Florida A&M University after deputies say he sexually abused a minor.
FAMU released the following statement regarding Tookes: He was hired in Aug 2018. As of today [Apil 29], he is an employee. The Human Relations Department is reviewing the status of his relationship with the university.
Tookes was previously a clinical social worker.
According to the Leon County Sheriffâs Office, the Florida Department of Children and Families received information regarding a sexual battery on February 23, 2021.