Two Treasure Coast men charged with sexual abuse of two 11-year-olds

(October 22, 2025) Yesterday, South Florida’s St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office announced that on October 17, a School Resource Deputy (SRD) assigned to a local elementary school was alerted to a concerning incident involving an 11-year-old fifth-grade student. The student reportedly showed another child an explicit image on the student’s phone while riding the school bus.

When the SRD followed up, the juvenile disclosed that he/she had been the victim of sexual abuse by an adult. Officials say that the incident did not occur on school property. The victim also identified another juvenile student, also 11- years-old, who may have been similarly victimized.

This information led to an investigation initiated by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (CID), led by Detective Rodrigues.  Extensive interviews were conducted with both juvenile victims, leading to the identification of two adult suspects.

The first suspect, Tayler DiFrancesco, 19, of Vero Beach, was brought in for questioning and, based on the initial investigation, was arrested and charged with Two (2) counts of Sexual Battery by an Offender 18 or Older on a Victim Under 12.  In light of additional findings, Taylor DiFrancisco was additionally charged with One (1) count of Lewd or Lascivious Conduct and Two (2) counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. 

DiFrancesco was transported and booked into the St. Lucie County Jail. He currently remains incarcerated and has no bond.

As the investigation progressed, detectives identified a second suspect, Arthur Douglas Brown, 20, of Ft. Pierce, who was located and interviewed by CID detectives on October 20. Following the interview and further evidence gathered, Brown was arrested and charged with Two (2) counts of Sexual Battery by an Offender 18 or Older on a Victim Under 12, One (1) count of Lewd or Lascivious Conduct, and Two (2) counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. He is currently incarcerated in the St. Lucie County Jail as well with no bond.

The Sheriff’s Office went on to report that, due to the sensitive nature of this case and the ages of the victims, no further details will be released at this time, but this remains an active and ongoing investigation.

Anyone with further information is urged to contact Detective Rodrigues of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (772) 462-3260.

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(Source and booking photos:  St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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