East County man arrested for sex with minors

Manatee County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested an East County man accused of giving drugs and alcohol to underage girls and having sexual relations with them.

Derrick Faircloth, of the 7100 block of 84th Street Court East, was charged with sexual battery, two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, two counts of introduction of obscene material to a minor and three counts of delivering a controlled substance to a minor.

In early June, detectives received information that Faircloth, 38, was providing minor females with alcohol and  Xanax and having sexual relations with them. A subsequent investigation led to three victims, ages 14, 16 and 17. The investigation revealed that Faircloth has a history of having high school-age girls at his house for parties and providing alcohol to them. Faircloth met the girls through his 20-year-old son, the report said.

During the parties, Faircloth would represent himself as 25 years old and would make sexual advances toward the juveniles after providing them with alcohol. He would also show pornographic movies and photos to the juveniles.

The investigation is ongoing and there is potential for other victims. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the sheriff’s office, 747-3011, Ext. 1927, or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.