Detectives fear there may be other victims of abuse

Public Information Officer Debra Johnson told local St. Johns County reporters with Historic City News that deputies in Flagler County have arrested a man charges with two counts of sexual battery of a child under 16 years of age.

55 year-old John Philip Maida Jr., who resides at 20 Filbert Lane in Palm Coast, was being booked into the Flagler County Inmate Facility Friday last night. His bond is set at $50,000.

Detectives reported that two sisters, who are now young adults, accuse Maida of abusing them when they were only 12 years-old; continuing as recently as this year.

When the girls’ mother died and their father was sent to prison, they were sent to live with Maida and his wife. The girls also claim that they were being abused by their father — before he was imprisoned on unrelated charges.

“This is a tragic family situation. After being abused, these young victims came forward because their abuser has access to other young children and they were worried that he would continue the abuse on them,” said Flagler County Sheriff Donald W. Fleming.

Detectives are asking anyone who thinks their children may have been victimized by Maida to contact the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at (386) 313-4911 or Crimestoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).