- April 18, 2024
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An 18-year-old Palm Coast man has been charged with raping one younger relative and exposing himself to another.
Gabriel Figueroa was arrested by Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Feb. 8 in connection with multiple sexual battery incidents between 2015 and 2019, all with a victim who was a minor. He was also charged with exposing his genitals to another minor in a 2020 incident.
Both victims are relatives of Figueroa, who was 12-16 at the time, while the victims were 7-10 years old, according to his arrest report.
Sheriff Rick Staly said he hopes Figueroa’s arrest will bring the victims closure.
“I commend the braveness of the victims to come forward, and I hope this arrest helps them heal from the trauma,” Staly said, according to a press release from the FCSO.
The FCSO began investigating in December when detectives received delayed complaints about the sex crimes.
The FCSO Major Crimes Unit and Problem Area Crime Enforcement Units worked with the State Attorney’s Office during their investigation of Figueroa, Staly said. Figueroa admitted to the crimes, according to the press release.
He has been charged with two felonies: lewd and lascivious exhibition with offender under 18, victim under 16; and sexual battery with offender under 18, victim under 12.
