By Marissa Lang, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, February 23, 2012
LARGO — A 44-year-old man was charged with sexual battery after repeatedly raping a teenage girl over the course of four years, police said.
Tony L. Wells admitted to the battery while on the phone with detectives on Feb. 15, police said. After that, he hit the road. Wells has been living as a transient, staying at shelters and homeless camps throughout Pinellas County for the past week, police said.
Police finally arrested Wells on Wednesday. He was charged with sexual battery and is being held on $100,000 bail.
Wells began to molest the girl when she was in the sixth grade, or about 12 or 13 years old, police said. Over the years, the abuse escalated, officials said.
When the girl was 15 or 16, Wells raped her several times, police said.
An investigation by a team from the police department's child protection unit revealed sexual abuse, police said.
Wells has a history of battery and stalking that dates back to 1997, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.
Times news researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Contact Marissa Lang at mlang@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3386.