Police: Man exposed himself to three young girls

Police arrested a Sebring man on Monday for allegedly contributing to the delinquency of two teenaged girls after all three were found inside a woman's home without permission, as well as served a warrant accusing him of exposing himself to an 8-year-old back in October.

The numerous charges against Joseph Jonathan Sweat, 24, of 933 Sunland Drive, Sebring, were three counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition, one count of lewd or lascivious conduct, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count each of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling while unarmed, possession of burglary tools and resisting an officer without violence.

He remained in the Highlands County Jail Wednesday under a $200,000 bond.

A woman pulled up to a home in the 1000 block of Evanston Avenue and said she saw a pair of legs sticking out of a bedroom, according to the arrest report. The legs belonged to a 15-year-old girl and reportedly asked the woman not to call the police, because she was supposed to be in school and would get in trouble.

Later, a 13-year-old was found on North Ridgewood Avenue and taken into custody. Both said they had been invited into the house by the homeowner to clean the place, the report stated.

The 13-year-old said Sweat was also inside. When the homeowner was contacted, she denied giving permission for the three of them to be inside her house, according to the report.

Dispatch told Sebring Police officers that Sweat had an active warrant from the sheriff's office for his arrest on lewd and lascivious behavior charges.

Sweat was found on State Road 17 by officers and reportedly ran away when they tried to talk to him. He finally stopped after threats were made to Taser him, the report stated.

The suspect talked with Sebring Police Officer Sean Bueford at the Highlands County Jail following his arrest and said he knew the warrant for his arrest may be out and he wanted to get to an attorney.

Sweat was searched at the jail and two pairs of latex gloves were allegedly found in his pants pockets. He could not explain to authorities why he had the gloves.

The warrant accused Sweat of masturbating in front of three girls between the ages of 8 and 12 at the time of the Oct. 6, 2009 incident, according to the arrest report.

Sweat was also accused of telling the 12-year-old that if she wanted to learn how to have sex to just ask, as well as sticking a cigarette in the mouth of the 8-year-old and giving her marijuana.