Life-felony arrest in child molestation case

When Historic City News reporters see a nearly 80-year-old man arrested and held in lieu of $200,000 bail, we scratch our heads and ask questions. When you read the answers, you may shake your head in disbelief.

Based on information included in the arrest warrant, Morris “Glenn” Smith, whose last reported address was 1851 Kathleen Avenue in the small Florida town of Cantonment, was in St Johns County between August 4, and September 9, 2014.

According to an interview of the victim conducted by a Child Protection Team and an interview conducted with Smith by law enforcement detectives, on several occasions during the four-month period, Smith enticed the child to enter the shower with him, and to wash his genitals. On one occasion, the victim was persuaded to get into bed with Smith and tug on his penis.

On other occasions, Smith said, the child would sit on his lap and grab Smith’s penis. The application for warrant says that Smith felt that the child was the sexual aggressor in their encounters.

When a 79-year-old man sexually molests a child under 12-years-old, he commits a life-degree felony. Smith was being held in custody at the Escambia County jail; where he is facing additional charges of lewd and lascivious molestation.

Smith was booked into the St Johns County Detention Facility just before 1:00 a.m. this morning, where he remains awaiting bail.