Video: Man Touching Children On Beach Confronted By Parents, Arrested By Deputies

Date Added: August 19, 2023 6:33 pm

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

MAN TOUCHING CHILDREN ON BEACH CONFRONTED BY PARENTS, ARRESTED BY DEPUTIES

A man who inappropriately touched multiple children on the beach was arrested this afternoon and charged with lewd or lascivious behavior.

Deputies responded to a disturbance along the water in New Smyrna Beach around 2:20 p.m. and learned John Edington (DOB 5/14/1967) had made unwanted physical contact with several beachgoers, including two girls ages 8 and 9.

Interviews with victims and witnesses revealed that Edington approached the 9-year-old on the shoreline while her mother was in the ocean, and rubbed his hands over her body before her mother was able to get to shore and confront him. Separately, an 8-year-old girl told deputies Edington touched her in the same way, over her bathing suit top and bottoms. Witnesses said he had also grabbed or approached others during his afternoon on the beach.

Edington, who lives north of DeLand, appeared to be intoxicated and told deputies he was “just a friendly guy,” but he was belligerent when questioned further.

He was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail charged with 2 counts of lewd or lascivious behavior, each carrying a bond of $20,000.