An Ocoee man was arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl after luring her into his car while she was walking to school.
On Friday, January 17, Orange County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested 41-year-old Luis Manuel Frias, Jr. on the following charges: three counts of sexual battery, one count of kidnapping, three counts of lewd or lascivious molestation, and one count of unlawful exposure of sexual organs.
The above charges are connected to an incident that occurred earlier in the week. According to OCSO, Frias allegedly lured a 13-year-old girl into his vehicle on Monday, January 13, while she was on her way to school.
With the victim in his vehicle, Frias allegedly drove to a residence located in an Orlando neighborhood. The arrest report stated that after parking his vehicle, Frias allegedly locked the doors, took the victim’s cellphone, and sexually battered her for over two hours.
According to the report, Frias then drove to Shingle Creek Trail and dropped the victim off in the parking lot. The victim told law enforcement that Frias returned her cellphone to her and instructed her not to tell anyone about the incident.
The victim walked home and told a relative about what had just happened.
The report stated that on Wednesday, January 15, the victim showed investigators the route that Frias had allegedly taken her on. She also pointed out the home where Frias had parked his vehicle, which is where the alleged sexual battery had occurred.
The sheriff’s office located video surveillance footage in the area that corroborated the victim’s statements, and Frias was soon identified as a suspect after detectives determined that his vehicle was involved in the incident.
In addition, investigators pinpointed the location of the victim’s cellphone on the day of the incident, determining that it was in the Orlando neighborhood where Frias allegedly took the victim, from approximately 9:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., according to the report.
“Because of the victim’s bravery, and willingness to work with detectives, our sex crimes unit was able to identify Frias and make an arrest,” said OCSO in a media release on Friday afternoon.
Following his arrest, Frias was booked into Orange County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond.
Detectives believe that there may have been previous luring attempts by Frias. If anyone has any information on other possible incidents involving Frias, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office asks that you call 407-836-4357 or 1-800-423-8477.