Former Jacksonville deacon facing multiple
molestation charges
Friday, April 26, 2002
Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE — A
businessman and former church deacon already accused of molesting a minor
was arrested Thursday on charges he molested two other youths.
Stephen Lee Edmonds, 44, was charged with five counts of lewd and
lascivious assault, said David Sembach, Jacksonville police assistant
chief of detectives.
The victims were 14 and 15 years old, authorities said.
Edmonds, who owns a home-building company, was released Thursday night
on $100,000 bond. He had been free on $50,000 bond following an arrest
April 15, when he was charged with molesting a 16-year-old and sending him
Internet messages discussing sexual practices.
Edmonds resigned as a deacon at First Baptist Church after his first
arrest.
The 16-year-old alleged that Edmonds improperly touched him twice in
2000. Following Edmonds' initial arrests, police seized two computers from
his home and began investigating additional molestation claims.
