(HorizonPost.com) – A Florida man, who admitted during a 2021 job interview with the police that he molested his younger cousin, was convicted last Wednesday in an Orange County court.
Stephen Bodley, 26, applied for a job as a serving police officer with the Apopka Police Department in 2021. During the voice stress examination portion of the interview process, Bodley was asked to clarify some concerning answers he had given on his pre-test questionnaire in which he described abusing a child several years earlier.
Bodley admitted that he molested his cousin.
According to a May 10 press release from State Attorney Andrew Bain’s office, detectives from the Apopka Police Department opened a criminal investigation into the claim, obtaining additional details from Bodley about the identity of the alleged victim.
Police contacted the victim’s mother and arranged to speak with the victim at the police department. There, they informed the victim and her mother about Bodley’s admission.
The victim’s mother said Bodley and her daughter had a close relationship. The victim confirmed the abuse to the police and a representative from the Florida Department of Children and Families.
According to the victim, the abuse occurred over five years when Bodley was a teenager. The victim’s name and age were redacted from court records. However, investigators alleged that Bodley began abusing her when she was a child.
Following the interview with the victim, Bodley was called to the police department where he was placed under arrest.
Before the trial began, Bodley’s defense attorney filed a motion to throw out the admissions Bodley made in the job interview as well as his statement to police after his arrest.
The judge overseeing the case threw out Bodley’s post-arrest admission but allowed his interview comments to be entered into evidence.
In his testimony during the trial, Bodley denied molesting the girl.
However, following a three-day trial, the jury convicted Bodley of sexual battery of a child under 12, which carries a sentence of life in prison.
Bodley will be sentenced on June 24.
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