Former church deacon found guilty of sexual battery

Thomas Halsey, 66, accused of molesting young girl inside treehouse

LEESBURG, Fla. – A former Lake County church deacon has been found guilty of sexual battery.

According to the Daily Commercial, it took jurors about five hours Wednesday, to convict  66-year-old Thomas Halsey.  

Investigators said the 5-year-old victim was molested several times inside a treehouse on Halsey's property. 

At the time of the allegations in 2014, Halsey was serving as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Leesburg. 

Halsey's attorneys argued that the former deacon who was the victim, and that the young girl grabbed him inappropriately several times. 

Halsey will be sentenced later. 

 


About the Author:

Cathleigh is a newscast producer and has been with News 6 since 2014. She graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in communications, with a focus in broadcast journalism. Cathleigh produces the 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. newscasts.

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