Registered sex predator accused of raping juvenile in Longwood

LONGWOOD, Fla. – The Longwood Police Department said a registered sexual predator is back behind bars after allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Investigators said a teenage girl called 911 on Wednesday morning, telling them Walter Ambrose, 40, held her at knife point and forced her to perform sex acts.

Ambrose made his first appearance in a Seminole County Court on Thursday, facing charges that include sexual battery on a minor and aggravated assault with a weapon.

Investigators said Ambrose was found in Sebastian about 12 hours after the alleged incident with help of the U.S. Marshal's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Ambrose was arrested back in 1994 for several similar assaults and later convicted.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office said that Ambrose was already serving a 20 year probation in the county.

Longwood police said that Ambrose is an acquaintance of the victim's family.

Another woman was at the home during the assault, and police are still determining if she was aware the incident was taking place.

"He won't be out on the streets and he won't be able to victimize another person especially when this one, she's a juvenile and that's really unfortunate. We don't want this to happen, but a juvenile that's really unfortunate. It's disturbing," said Ryan Short with the Longwood Police Department.

Ambrose will be back in court on March 1.