A 28-year-old man already registered as a sexual offender was arrested after deputies say he repeatedly entered a restroom at University Mall and approached a woman who was trying to hide there, just after 6 p.m. on October 20. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Christopher Anderson and said he now faces a lengthy list of charges stemming from the encounter, including battery, weapons offenses and six separate probation violations.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
, deputies responded to University Mall for a sex-offense call for service and learned during their investigation that Anderson put his hand down the victim's pants and touched her genitals. The sheriff's office also said Anderson put his hands up the victim's shirt and grabbed her breasts inside the restroom.
Mall surveillance footage, per the sheriff's office, showed the victim trying to hide inside the women's restroom while Anderson repeatedly entered and approached the area where she was located. Deputies arrested Anderson following the investigation, and the agency said he was also found carrying a pocket knife at the time.
Charges Pile Up Beyond the Assault Allegation
Anderson was charged with battery, resisting an officer without violence, and six counts of violation of probation, the sheriff's office said. He was also charged with felon carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony, tied to the pocket knife deputies say he was carrying.
On top of those counts, Anderson was charged with failure of a sexual offender to register electronic mail addresses or internet identifiers — a charge that stems from his status as a previously registered sexual offender. Under Florida Statute § 943.0435, registered sexual offenders are required to report changes to information tied to their registration, including electronic mail addresses and internet identifiers. The same statute also requires sexual offenders to report in person to the sheriff's office under specified circumstances, such as establishing residence in Florida or being released from custody or supervision.
What Remains Unknown
The sheriff's office has not released charging-document details, a case number, or an independent account from the victim, and it remains unclear how the conflicting descriptions of the alleged physical contact will be resolved as the case moves forward. Anderson's attorney, bond status, and any upcoming court appearance have also not been detailed in the information released so far.
