- January 18, 2025
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Palm Coast resident Gaston Santos Jr., 34, has been arrested for the statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous report on Jan. 9 that a Palm Coast man, identified as Santos, was engaging in sexual activity with a female who he knew was only 15 years of age.
The case was assigned to the FCSO Major Case Unit. MCU detectives spoke with the victim, who confirmed that the anonymous report was true.
The victim said Santos had manipulated her into believing that they were in a relationship, and that he subsequently engaged in sexual intercourse with her on two occasions.
Detectives were able to obtain evidence through law-enforcement-monitored communication between Santos and the victim that Santos committed lewd and lascivious battery (Florida's legal term for statutory rape) on the child on two occasions dating back to Jan. 1, and that he knew she was 15. He told her to lie about his age to law enforcement and to tell law enforcement officers that he was "around her age."
Santos was located on Feb. 4 with assistance from FCSO Problem Area Crime Enforcement detectives. MCU detectives interviewed him, and he confessed to the crimes.
