After a nearly month-long investigation, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office has arrested Giancarlo Gonzalez-Nieves, 24, on charges of sexual battery involving a minor. The victim, who started reporting the abusive incidents on June 4, stated that the abuse began when she was around 8 years old and continued until she was approximately 12. The Sheriff's Office confirmed multiple admissions from Gonzalez-Nieves which corroborated the allegations made by the victim, according to WFTV.
The abuse is alleged to have taken place in a home near Kissimmee, and Gonzalez-Nieves was arrested via warrant on June 27. He now faces a capital charge of sexual battery, defined by law as when the perpetrator is over 18 and the victim is under 12. Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez praised his special victims unit for their diligent work which led to an arrest, emphasizing the bravery of the victim for coming forward. "My detectives with the special victims unit did a fantastic job in this case and thoroughly investigated and were able to obtain multiple admissions from Gonzalez-Nieves where he confirmed the allegations of abuse," Lopez said, as reported by WESH.
During a news conference, Sheriff Lopez revealed that Gonzalez-Nieves was a family friend of the victim and took on roles such as babysitting. “They were watching the child, just watching- babysitting the child,” Lopez told reporters as detailed by ClickOrlando, pinpointing a locus of betrayal where trust was severed and innocence coerced into silence. The Osceola County Sheriff went on to encourage anyone with any knowledge of potential other incidents or victims to step forward to assist further in the ongoing investigation. He also mentioned that Gonzalez-Nieves had connections to the Palabra De Fe church and that they would be reaching out to ensure no other victims were affected.
As cases like these shatter communities, stirring a mix of horror and outrage, Sheriff Lopez has emphasized the importance of community vigilance and reporting any abuse. Investigators have been swift to ask anyone with information to not hesitate to contact the Osceola County Sheriff's Office at (407) 348-2222. Giancarlo Gonzalez-Nieves, since his arrest, is being held with no bond, a reflection of the gravity attributed to such offenses and the protective stance that the law strives to uphold for the youngest among us.
