Florida man accused of picking up Alabama teen, taking her to the woods and raping her

A man is accused of convincing an Alabama teen to leave her home and go with him to Florida. When she did, he sexually assaulted her, police claimed.

On Nov. 19, deputies with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office in Florida found a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing in Alabama. The victim was found on a boat ramp in Holmes County.

The juvenile told police she met a man online, who was later identified as Anthony Salvador Ocasio, 33, according to the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office. The two met on social media about a month earlier and started communicating.

The victim said a man named “Anthony” came and picked her up in Alabama and then they traveled to the woods in Homes County, Florida. There, Ocasio forced the victim into the backseat of the car, refused to let her leave and sexually assaulted her, according to the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office.

The battery happened as Ocasio had a gun and threatened to kill the victim’s family, deputies said.

After nine hours, the victim said she was dropped off at the boat ramp.

Investigators found Ocasio through his social media accounts and arrested him last week. He was charged with forcible sexual battery, false imprisonment and aggravated child abuse.