Cape Coral police arrested and charged a man Wednesday for lewd and lascivious acts on a 7-year-old girl.
According to a prepared statement from city spokeswoman Connie Barron, Herbert Patrick James O’Connell, 50, of 411 N.W. 23rd Terrace, was charged with exposing himself to the girl.
On Aug. 30, Cape police responded to a report about a sex offense.
An investigation was conducted by detective Christine Montesino-Mena with assistance from detective Todd Kerns and the Children’s Advocacy Center.
Montesino-Mena reportedly found sufficient evidence that O’Connell had exposed himself to the girl on more than one occasion.
According to an incident report, O’Connell solicited sex from the girl in exchange for candy.
When questioned by the detective, O’Connell said the allegations were false and that the girl walked into a garage a couple of times while he was fondling himself.
O’Connell was still in custody in Lee County jail as of Thursday afternoon.