Off-Duty School Custodian Arrested For Molesting 13-Year-Old

DeLand, FL - A school custodian is now in jail after the Volusia Sheriff’s Office charged him with molesting a 13-year-old child. Deputies arrested 46-year-old Maurice Carter—a custodian supervisor at Starke Elementary—Monday (January 18th) on charges of lewd or lascivious molestation and aggravated child abuse. According to a release from the sheriff’s office, deputies first met with Carter on Sunday (January 17th) after receiving reports of an altercation. During that incident, witnesses told investigators that Carter—who was intoxicated at the time—was seen fondling and kissing the body of the 13-year-old victim. While the crime did not occur on school grounds, and Carter’s access to the victim was not related to his job, VSO wants to make residents and parents aware of his arrest, especially because of his proximity to children. Carter has since been booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail with bond set at $5,000. He remains in custody as of Tuesday morning (January 19th). At the moment, there is no indication of any additional victims. However, anyone with information about potential victims in this or any other case is asked to contact the Volusia Sheriff’s Office Child Exploitation Unit at 386-323-3574.