An east Florida police officer who twice raped a 13-year-old girl whom he contacted via a cellphone app has been arrested and charged with assaulting a minor, police reports say.
Sheridon Archer, 23, an agent with the Palm Bay Police Department in Brevard County (East Coast), Florida, is accused of meeting the 13-year-old girl at her home and raping her on two separate occasions between August 1 and August 20 , while on duty, according to an official report.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), where the case was referred to as a law enforcement officer, reported in a statement that Archer used cellphone apps MeetMe and Snapchat to communicate with the minor.
The Palm Bay Police Department said Archer was fired last Wednesday.
Archer had been in this department for nine months.
The now-former officer is being held in the Brevard County jail and his bail has been set at $500,000.
According to the affidavit, he was ordered not to have any contact with the girl, her family or children under the age of 18.
Investigators said that during interrogations, Archer admitted to having had sexual relations with the minor and also exchanged nude photos with her.
Archer reportedly told investigators he believed the girl was 19.