Man accused of touching, performing sex acts with a 10-year-old in her bedroom more than a dozen times

A Florida man faces charges for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl more than a dozen times in her home, police said.

Merlyn Torres-Harper, 20, was arrested this week in connection to the incident, according to the Boynton Beach police and reported by Boca News Now.

Officers responded to a hospital for a sexual battery involving the child, according to police. The victim’s mother told officers that on Jan. 3, she saw a hickey on the girl’s neck and became concerned.

The mother asked the victim how she got the mark, and the child said Merlyn Torres-Harper gave it to her, according to police. Merlyn Torres-Harper had been staying with the family for several months.

The mother confronted Merlyn Torres-Harper and he neither confirmed nor denied what happened, police noted. But he said he would leave the home and the family would never hear from him again.

At the hospital, the victim told officials that Merlyn Torres-Harper kissed her on the neck and touched her genitals while in her bedroom about 12 times.

After Merlyn Torres-Harper was confronted, the mom told police that she got several text messages apologizing for what he did. Police listened in as the mom called Merlyn Torres-Harper, who allegedly admitted to performing a sex act with the child five different times.

The victim also said Merlyn Torres-Harper told her not to tell anyone or he would go to jail, according to police.

Officers arrested Merlyn Torres-Harper and he admitted to the sex acts, police said.