Sexual assault victims speak up

SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) - Many folks in Santa Rosa County are now reacting to the arrest of Chief Deputy Tax Collector Edward Collinsworth.

Collinsworth, 45, was arrested Wednesday by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office after two victims came forward claiming Collinsworth sexually assaulted them numerous times between 1979 and 1986.

Authorities said the victims said it began when they were around five or six years old but ended when they got old enough to fight back.

Marc Ward with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office said there are many details they can't speak about due to the sensitive nature of the accusations.

"We don't want to go into too much detail at this point in time for the well-being of the victims. Plus the investigation is ongoing, and we don't know where that will take us," said Ward.

But according to the arrest report, Collinsworth lived across from the victims in Santa Rosa County at the time.

The report also states that the victims said the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case led them to come forward so many years later.

John Ratzlaff said he was shocked by the news, but he's waiting for authorities to find out what exactly happened.

"It's horrible for everybody, for the families involved, and it's horrible for him if it's true," Ratzlaff said, "I just hope that they get to the bottom of it and find out the truth. I feel sorry for the children if it is true. All we can do is hope and pray I guess."

Collinsworth is facing 10 counts of sexual assault on a child under 12 years of age.

The Santa Rosa County Tax Collector's Office said Collinsworth was placed on leave from his job.

They said while the charges against him are unrelated to his job, his status remains under review and is subject to change.