Tallahassee man facing multiple child sex charges

A Tallahassee man is facing multiple child sex charges after investigators say he used food and sweets to coerce a young girl into lewd acts.

James R. Daniels III was charged Monday with three counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, two counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition, lewd and lascivious battery, soliciting a child and child abuse. The 40-year-old is being held in the Leon County Detention Facility.

The victim told investigators that over three years, Daniels masturbated in front of and grinded on her multiple times. She detailed several occasions in which Daniels coerced her into touching him sexually and pulling her into his lap while he was naked and touching her while she slept, despite her objections.

“The victim remembers the defendant bribing her with food and sweets,” Tallahassee Police investigators wrote in arrest documents. “He would offer her ice cream, candy or cookies. He would tell her, ‘I’ll give you this candy if you let me do this to you.’”

Daniels has an extensive Leon County criminal history that includes drug charges, aggravated battery and burglary. He was arrested after a meeting with his probation officer Monday.

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter