A Cape Coral man is accused of inappropriately touching himself in front of a 15-year-old girl while she was asleep in her bed.
William James Milne, 43, of 1813 N.E. Fifth Ave., was arrested and charged Tuesday with lewd, lascivious behavior offender 18 years of age or older with victim less than 16 years of age. He remained in custody Wednesday at the Lee County Jail on $500,000.
According to the arrest report, the school resource officer at a Cape high school was approached by a student on May 18. The student stated that a friend reported that Milne had come into her bedroom when everyone was asleep and touched her and himself.
The school resource officer contacted Cape detectives and the Department of Children and Families. During an interview, the girl’s parents reported that Milne had been released from prison in October and they were trying to help him get back on his feet.
They confirmed that Milne is listed as a sexual offender.
In 2000, Milne was sentenced to 13 years in Hardee County for sexual battery weapon or force and false imprisonment, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
During an interview with detectives, the girl reportedly stated that she woke up on several occasions to find Milne standing next to her bed watching her. One time she awoke to find him in her bed with his arms wrapped around her.
She said Milne unwrapped his arms and went back to his bedroom.
According to the report, in the most recent incident the girl awoke to find him standing next to her bed touching himself with his pants down. She acted like she woke up and he pulled his pants up, apologized and left the bedroom.
The girl told detectives that Milne never asked her to do anything for or to him and that she had not told her parents because she thought it would stop.
Milne was located Tuesday in Punta Gorda and taken into custody.
A woman who answered the phone at Milne’s home declined to comment.
He has a court date scheduled for June 27.