DCF Employee Fired After Molestation Charges

SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. - WESH.com

An employee with the Department of Children and Families in South Daytona is fired after being arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a child.

South Daytona police arrested Ronald Thornton, 56, at his Port Orange home Tuesday night.

Police said Thornton was visiting his adult son over the weekend when he molested a 7-year-old girl, who is a family friend.

According to the police report, Thornton took his pants and underwear off, then forced the girl to touch him while he raped her.

Thornton lives in Port Orange with his wife. She did not answer the door, but neighbors in the area are rocked by the allegations.

"I just can't believe it. He must have..It's hard to believe," one neighbor said.

Thornton works for DCF as a food stamp processor. Police said he is not involved with children on the job.

Thornton has no previous criminal history in Florida, but police said they have no doubt they arrested a man who violated an innocent child.

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