A child abuse investigation that started with a June complaint has led to the arrest of two people in DeSoto County this week, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities identified the suspects as Kourtney Essick and Keith Rivers and said the arrests grew out of an inquiry that began in early June. Deputies say the case traces back to a June 9 complaint, first handled by Deputy Marquez, after which Detective Roosa continued the investigation and later obtained arrest warrants. The agency says the case centers on alleged neglect and aggravated child abuse.
What the sheriff’s office posted
The arrests were first laid out in a July 21 Facebook post from the sheriff’s office. The post says Detective Roosa obtained an arrest warrant for Kourtney Essick after Deputy Marquez responded to the June 9 complaint, and that investigators also developed probable cause to arrest Keith Rivers. According to the post, Essick faces neglect-related counts, including an alleged failure to report, while Rivers is charged with aggravated child abuse. The sheriff’s office did not list bond amounts or court dates in that update. According to DeSoto County Sheriff's Office (Facebook).
The same post notes that "Sheriff Potter praised the deputies and detectives for their 'diligence and thoroughness.'" Officials said they are releasing only limited public detail while the case is active and emphasized that detectives developed probable cause before seeking the warrants. According to DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
Charges and the law
According to the sheriff’s post, Essick was arrested on counts of neglect of a child, including an alleged failure to report, and on a neglect charge that allegedly resulted in great bodily harm. Rivers was arrested on a charge of aggravated child abuse. Under Florida law, aggravated child abuse includes conduct that causes great bodily harm and is treated as a first-degree felony, while child neglect that results in great bodily harm is a second-degree felony. See Florida Senate (F.S. 827.03).
Mandatory reporting and the abuse hotline
Florida law requires anyone who knows or reasonably suspects that a child is being abused to report it to the state’s central abuse hotline. The duty to report and the basic procedures are spelled out in statute. Reports can be made by phone at 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) or online, and certain professionals are required to identify themselves when they file a report. See Florida Statutes (F.S. 39.201) and local reporting guidance summarized by News4Jax.
Legal implications
If prosecutors choose to file formal charges and then secure convictions, the offenses cited in the sheriff’s summary carry felony-level penalties under Florida law. Aggravated child abuse is a first-degree felony, and neglect offenses that cause serious harm can be charged as second-degree felonies. Penalties for knowingly failing to report suspected abuse are addressed in Chapter 39 and can include exposure to a third-degree felony in some situations. See Florida Statutes (F.S. 39.205) and Florida Senate (F.S. 827.03).
What happens next
The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains active. Any formal charging documents, court filings or hearing dates would appear through the DeSoto County Clerk of Court and the State Attorney’s Office. For the moment, the agency’s Facebook post is the primary public account of the arrests and lists the defendants’ names and the statutes cited. Court records and filings by prosecutors will be the next places to watch for details such as specific counts and arraignment dates.
