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Hernando Sheriff Charges Two with Sexual Battery

Arrests | Crime | Jail

One of the men was also charged in robbery cases, Hernando sheriff’s deputies said.

HERNANDO COUNTY – Two men have been charged in the sexual battery of a woman, according to the Hernando Sheriff’s Office.

Richard Bunyan Mosby Jr., 24, was charged with two counts of sexual battery and one count each of robbery, no firearm or weapon; burglary of an unoccupied conveyance; and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling. Kurtis Ray Edie, 25, was charged with one count of sexual battery.

Hernando County deputies were dispatched to the area of Northcliffe Baptist Church in Spring Hill about 4:17 a.m. Tuesday. The caller, who had seen a man fleeing the area, found a woman in a nearby field who appeared to be in distress.

While deputies were on that scene, 911 dispatchers received a call from the owner of Best Cleaners & Laundry, 4315 Lamson Ave. in Spring Hill, who was reporting a possible attempted burglary. The business near the church. The business owner had reviewed surveillance video from earlier that morning which showed a woman, who was later identified as the woman found near the church, trying to kick in the rear door of the business.

The video also shows a man, later identified as Mosby, trying to take the woman from the area. Deputies said the video shows that, before she tried to kick in the door, she was lying on the
ground, incapacitated, near the laundry. They said the video shows Mosby sexually battering her while she lay motionless during the attack. When she regained consciousness, she appeared  to try to get into the laundry for safety. It also shows Mosby trying to lead the woman away from the laundry. Deputies said he eventually succeeded in moving her out of range of the video camera.

Richard Bunyan Mosby Jr. | Hernando Sheriff | Arrests
Mosby

While that investigation was ongoing, another 911 call was received reporting a strong arm robbery near Lamson Avenue and Hearth Road, a short distance from where the reported sexual battery happened. The victim in that case said she was walking east on Hearth Road on her way to the bus stop for work when she was attacked by a man, who was later identified as Mosby. Deputies said the victim told them that Mosby knocked her down and began choking her.

She said she lost consciousness for a moment, then began to twist and fight back. She said she was able to scratch the suspect on the side of her attacker’s mouth. She was eventually able to get her attacker to release her. She told deputies he fled with her cell phone and other miscellaneous property.

The description she gave to deputies matched the description of the suspect in the sexual battery case.

During this time, in an attempt to locate the suspect, a K-9 unit was sent to the site of the sexual battery. Deputy Jason Jernigan and K-9 Dzel were able to track the suspect from Best Cleaners & Laundry to his residence located at 4276 Goldcoast Ave. in Spring Hill. Deputies said Mosby was found hiding in a rubber container located in the garage. Mosby was taken into custody without further incident.

When questioned later, the victim from the sexual battery case told deputies she did not recall any of the events of the previous night or morning. She also told them that she had not given her consent to have sex with anyone, including Mosby.

Kurtis Ray Edie | Hernando Sheriff | Arrests
Edie

The victim told deputies she recalled going to the Delirium Sports Bar & Lounge, 4241 Mariner Blvd., the previous night where she met Mosby for the first time. She could not recall leaving the bar. Deputies went to the bar to view surveillance video from that night. The bar’s staff confirmed that the sexual battery victim, Mosby, and Edie were seen talking and that all three went into the bathroom together on multiple occasions.

A deputy talked with Edie, who confirmed he had been out with the victim that night. Edie initially denied having sexual contact with the victim. However, deputies said Edie told them that, when he went into the bathroom, he saw Mosby having sex with the victim. After further questioning, deputies said Edie admitted he also had sex with the victim in the bathroom.

Edie told deputies the victim appeared disoriented during the entire sexual encounter and did not have the ability to consent to having sex. Deputies said Mosby also later admitted that he had sex with the victim without her consent on both occasions.

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Hernando Sheriff | Crime | Arrests | Sexual Battery | TB Reporter

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