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Volusia sheriff: Business owner charged with molestation; effort to ensure there aren’t more victims

Volusia sheriff: Business owner charged with molestation; effort to ensure there aren’t more victims
FROM OUR TEAM OF FIRST WARNING METEOROLOGISTS. A VOLUSIA COUNTY BUSINESS OWNER IS IN JAIL ACCUSED OF INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING OF A CHILD. SOMEONE HE KNEW. >> BUT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE WANTS THE WORD OUT IN CASE THE ARRESTED OWNER OF A PEST CONTROL COMPANY MAY HAVE BEEN AROUND OTHER KIDS DURING HIS WORK DAY. WESH 2’S DAVE MCDANIEL IS LIVE IN VOLUSIA COUNTY WITH THE INVESTIGATORS CONCERNS >> RIGHT NOW THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE DOESN’T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE TO INVESTIGATE, BUT THEY WANT TO BE ABSOLUTLEY CERTAIN THERE ARE NOT OTHER VICTIMS OUT THERE. >> THAT JUDGE HAS ISSUED A NO BOND WARRANT ON THE CHARGE OF LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS MOLESTATION ON A MINOR. >> 76 YEAR OLD DANIEL TILLIS THE MAN IN THE JAIL JUMPSUIT WITH WHITE HAIR AND A MOUSTACHE FACES SERIOUS ACCUSAITONS. >> REALLY DISTURBING AND SICKENING ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL CHILD ABUSE A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 12. >> THE REPORT INDICATES THE CHILD SOMEONE TILLIS KNOWS WELL. NO LONGER WANTED TO SLEEP ALONE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE INCIDENTS SHE ENDURED. THE SHERIF’F’S OFFICE WAS CALLED IN NOVEMBER FOR THINGS THAT HAPPENED BETWEEN 2018 AND 2022. AND THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAY THIS INVESTIGATION, LED TO OTHER ALLEGATIONS. >> ONCE WE BEGAN THAT INVESTIGATION INTO HIM, WE UNCOVERED THAT THERE WERE TWO OTHER YOUNG LADIES WHO WERE ABUSED BY HIM. >> WOMEN WHO ARE NOW ADULTS ALSO KNOWN BY TILLIS ALLEGATIONS THAT DATE BACK YEARS AGO. THE REPORT INDICATES TILLIS ULTIMATELY DENIED ALL ALLEGATIONS. >> NO CONTACT WITH THAT VICTIM, ALLEGED VICTIM, NO CONTACT WITH ANY WITNESSES, NO CONTACT WITH ANY CHILDREN, NO BOND. OFFICE POINTS OUT HE OWNS A DEBARY AREA PEST CONTROL BUSINESS. A BUSINESS WHICH DIDN’T RESPOND WHEN WE STOPPED BY AND CALLED. >> BASED ON HIS BUSINESS AND THE FACT THAT HE’S OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY, I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO SEE IF HE’S HAD ANY CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER YOUNG CHILDREN. >> THE SHERIFF SAYS A CONVERSATION, COULD BE VERY IMPORTANT. >> IF YOU KNOW HIM AND HE’S HAD ACCESS AROUND YOUR CHILD, YOU NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM. >> WE NEED TO POINT OUT THAT THIS ARREST INVOLVES THE MOST RECENT ALLEGATIONS. ANYTHING FROM YEARS AGO IS STILL UNDER REVIEW BY AUTHORITIES. LIVE
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Volusia sheriff: Business owner charged with molestation; effort to ensure there aren’t more victims
A Volusia County business owner is in jail, accused of inappropriately touching a child.The sheriff's office wants the word out in case the arrested owner of a pest control company may have been around other kids during his work day.Seventy-six-year-old Daniel Tillis faces serious accusations. The judge issued a no-bond warrant on the charge of lewd and lascivious molestation of a minor.“Really disturbing and sickening allegations of sexual child abuse, a child under the age of 12,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. The report indicates the child is someone Tillis knows well and “no longer wanted to sleep alone at night” due to the incidents she endured. The sheriff's office was called in November for things that happened between 2018 and 2022. And the sheriff's office says this investigation led to other allegations.“Once we began that investigation into him, we uncovered that there were two other young ladies who were abused by him,” Chitwood said. Women who are now adults, also known by Tillis, have allegations that date back years ago.The report indicates Tillis “ultimately denied all allegations.”“No contact with that victim, alleged victim. No contact with any witnesses. No contact with any children. No bond,” the judge said. Tillis will remain in jail, but the sheriff's office points out he owns a DeBary area pest control business. A business that didn't respond when we stopped by and called.“Based on his business and the fact that he's out and about in the community, I think it's important to see if he's had any contact with any other young children,” Chitwood said. The sheriff says a conversation could be very important.“If you know him and he's had access around your child, you need to have a conversation with them,” Chitwood said. It’s worth noting that this arrest involves the most recent allegations. Anything from years ago is still under review by authorities.Detectives are asking anyone with information about other potential cases to contact VSO CEU detectives at 386-323-3574.Top headlines:Police negotiator recalls talking down woman suspected of killing husband at Daytona Beach hospitalMother sues Orange County Public Schools over alleged volunteer ban for OnlyFans accountFlorida power companies want to raise electric bills up to 20%

A Volusia County business owner is in jail, accused of inappropriately touching a child.

The sheriff's office wants the word out in case the arrested owner of a pest control company may have been around other kids during his work day.

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Seventy-six-year-old Daniel Tillis faces serious accusations. The judge issued a no-bond warrant on the charge of lewd and lascivious molestation of a minor.

“Really disturbing and sickening allegations of sexual child abuse, a child under the age of 12,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said.

The report indicates the child is someone Tillis knows well and “no longer wanted to sleep alone at night” due to the incidents she endured.

The sheriff's office was called in November for things that happened between 2018 and 2022. And the sheriff's office says this investigation led to other allegations.

“Once we began that investigation into him, we uncovered that there were two other young ladies who were abused by him,” Chitwood said.

Women who are now adults, also known by Tillis, have allegations that date back years ago.

The report indicates Tillis “ultimately denied all allegations.”

“No contact with that victim, alleged victim. No contact with any witnesses. No contact with any children. No bond,” the judge said.

Tillis will remain in jail, but the sheriff's office points out he owns a DeBary area pest control business. A business that didn't respond when we stopped by and called.

“Based on his business and the fact that he's out and about in the community, I think it's important to see if he's had any contact with any other young children,” Chitwood said.

The sheriff says a conversation could be very important.

“If you know him and he's had access around your child, you need to have a conversation with them,” Chitwood said.

It’s worth noting that this arrest involves the most recent allegations. Anything from years ago is still under review by authorities.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about other potential cases to contact VSO CEU detectives at 386-323-3574.

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