The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said the man knew the child through a family connection and that during the time of the abuse, he lived near the child’s home.
PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — A Putnam County man was arrested on child sexual abuse charges Monday, ending a months-long investigation, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) announced on its Facebook page Wednesday.
Max Gilson, 23, faces charges of lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim 12-16 years old by offender 18 or older and lewd and lascivious battery with a victim 12 to 16 years old after being arrested on a warrant.
PSCO said it began investigating Gilson after a parent of the child contacted the sheriff’s office about possible sexual abuse, after the child sent the parent a typed message disclosing sex acts.
The parent also told deputies the child’s description of “several sexualized encounters” with Gilson from October 2023 into 2024, according to PCSO, which included “oral sex with Gilson and inappropriate touching by Gilson.”
The sheriff’s office said Gilson knew the child through a family connection and that during the time of the abuse, he lived near the child’s home.
“The victim said the abuse stopped when Gilson moved away,” PCSO’s post states.
Gilson was originally taken into custody at the Putnam County Jail, but was later transferred to the St. Johns County Jail “per agency protocol due to a family member employed at the sheriff’s office,” PCSO said. He is being held on a $150,000 bond.
The sheriff’s office said it will not release the child’s age, gender or location of the alleged abuse in order to “protect the victim’s identity.”
