Leesburg Deacon Accused of Sexual Battery of Child in Treehouse

By Millard K. Ives
Daily Commercial
March 29, 2014

http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/article_0281c2f5-98f2-5d4a-9004-fa150bef5423.html

Millard K. Ives | Staff Writer

A deacon at a Leesburg church was arrested Friday on charges that he forced a child to perform sex acts in a treehouse at his home.

Thomas Halsey, 65, with First Baptist Church in Leesburg, turned himself in at the Lake County jail, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with two counts of sexual battery on a child under 12 and was held without bail.

The brown-colored brick, two-garage home is nestled in a residential neighborhood in the 6000 block of Sunnyside Drive in Leesburg. In the back yard is a three-story green tree house with a deck swing and chairs visible on the second floor.

Sgt. James Vachon called it an elaborate treehouse which could fit beds inside.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the victim told her mother on March 21 that she had been performing sexual acts with Halsey in the treehouse and at home.

Detectives searched the treehouse and questioned the deacon on Wednesday and said he told them the child had touched him without his consent on a number of occasions.

It is not clear how the child is connected to Halsey but Vachon said no children lived at the home.

It is not immediately clear what effect Halsey’s arrest had on his position with the church and officials there couldn’t be reached for comment on Friday.

But a neighbor who lives across the street and didn’t want to be identified, said Halsey has been working on the tree house for about seven years.

“You have to wonder why he has a tree house in his yard,” the neighbor said.