Sarasota man charged with sexual battery of a minor

A Sarasota man has been arrested on a felony charge of lewd and lascivious battery of a victim younger than 16.

Carson Smith, 23, of 468 Quay Commons, Unit 1211, was taken into custody on May 20. A 15-year-old girl said she met Smith on Snapchat in March. She said she told him her age and he replied that he was 18. 

Image courtesy of Sarasota Police

According to the arrest report, after communicating on Snapchat, Smith picked up the victim on four occasions at a gas station in Venice.

The victim told investigators Smith would pick her up and take her to his downtown Sarasota apartment, where he offered her alcohol and she declined. During their interactions, she said Smith repeatedly told the victim, “I don’t want to get in trouble with any parents or the law.”

In April, Smith picked up the victim for the last time, brought her back to his apartment where they engaged in sexual intercourse. The victim said she was not resistant because she was high on marijuana.

After being caught returning home in the early pre-dawn hours, a parent brought the victim to the Sarasota Police Department to file a report. 

Smith was released on bond from the Sarasota County Jail on Friday, May 22, on $75,000 bond.

The investigation is ongoing and detectives believe there may be more victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Angela Cox of the Sarasota Police Department at [email protected] or call 941-263-6075.  Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Sarasota County at 941-366-8477.