Colorado man charged in Florida with molestation

SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) - The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office has arrested a Colorado man suspected of lewd acts against a child.

Michael Anthony Hayes is locked up in the Santa Rosa County Jail, segregated with other sex offender inmates.

Florida Department of Children and Families received a report last June about a victim of sexual abuse.

They said a child described to them a series of sexual acts involving Hayes.

The state called in Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's when it appeared that crimes against a child had occurred.

"We jointly did an investigation into this," said Sgt. Scott Haines, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office. "When the victim was interviewed, they made allegations that Mr. Hayes had actually touched the victim inappropriately, took some photographs of the victim naked, as well as talking the victim into touching places on him as well."

The sheriff's office report describes how incidents between Michael Anthony Hayes and a young child took place four to five times per week for almost two years.

Hayes moved from Florida to Colorado in April, two months before the allegations surfaced.

Law enforcement authorities issued a warrant in July for Hayes' arrest, and he was brought back to Florida in December.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office said between August 2010 and April 2011, Michael Hayes was living with his father, a woman and her child at the reserve apartment community near Gulf Breeze.

In the report the child said that Hayes had been touching her while they lived together in Colorado and it continued in Florida.

"There's really no rhyme or reason when a victim comes forward. Usually they'll say something to a friend or someone they confide in," Sgt. Haines said. "Usually the suspect puts fear in them saying 'Don't tell,' 'Keep it a secret,' things like that."

Haines does not know if Michael Anthony Hayes has denied the charges against him.

Hayes is charged with six counts of lewd or lascivious behavior.