Four people charged in Bay County child molestation case

Dec. 2--PANAMA CITY -- Four people have been arrested on charges related to the molestation of a child, according to the Bay County Sheriff's Office.

Joseph D. Eldridge, 22, was arrested Nov. 26 and charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child less than 12 years old.

On Monday, Nikki Harrison, 21; Allison Harrison, 23; and Tonia Harrison, 43, all were charged with failing to report child abuse to DCF, which is a third-degree felony. Details on how the three women might be related were not available on Tuesday.

BCSO criminal investigators were notified by DCF on Thanksgiving Day that a 6-year-old child had made a disclosure of sexual abuse. Following an investigation, it was revealed that the victim also had told the three women of the abuse but they did not report the incidents. Interviews were conducted with the child as well as the four adults involved, the release said.

"Every adult in the state of Florida is considered a mandatory reporter," Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said. "That means every adult who suspects physical or sexual abuse of a child or child neglect is taking place must report this to authorities."

The DCF hotline is 800-962-2873.

Abuse also can be reported online at https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/abuse-hotline/report-online.shtml.

___

(c)2020 The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.)

Visit The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.) at www.newsherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.