Man accused of grabbing female on trail; Orange County deputies believe more victims possible

Israel Pagan, 19, facing attempted sexual battery charge

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A 19-year-old man was arrested after deputies said he grabbed a female victim jogging along a trail Sunday night, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

Israel Pagan faces a charge of attempted sexual battery of a victim 12 years of age or older in the attack that occurred around 5 p.m. on the Little Econ Greenway Trail, deputies said.

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Israel Pagan, 19, is facing an attempted sexual battery charge. (Orange County Sheriff's Office)

The sheriff’s office said the woman he grabbed fought him off.

Karen Thayer, an Orlando resident, said she was near the trail Wednesday evening with her 16-year-old daughter.

“To be a female, and you can’t jog, you can’t be alone,” she said. “The trees, the brush, there’s so many places a person that doesn’t have good intentions could hide.”

According to Orange County’s website, Pagan is being held on $50,000 bond.

Investigators are currently looking for other potential victims and urge anyone with information on incidents involving Pagan to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.

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About the Authors

Troy graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. He has reported on Mexican drug cartel violence on the El Paso/ Juarez border, nuclear testing facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory and severe Winter weather in Michigan.