FORT MYERS, Fla. – A California man with a checkered history was arrested in Florida on Wednesday for allegedly following and trying to lure a 12-year-old girl.
It happened near an apartment complex on Eastwood Acres Road in Fort Myers.
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According to authorities, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper was approached by a man who said that his 12-year-old daughter had been followed home by a large man after she missed the school bus.
The suspect, who has since been identified as as Thomas Christopher Karba, 37, from Ventura, California, was seen circling and trying to enter the apartment complex through bushes several times, troopers said.
While investigating, troopers said the girl told them Karba was walking closely behind her while repeatedly asking her questions about her age or where she lived.
Speaking to Karba, troopers said he told them he was trying to talk to her because he was unaware of the girl’s age.
He also told troopers that he was walking around the complex because he was looking for a place to rent, but after speaking to the apartment manager, he confirmed that Karba was not a resident, had no family there and had never been to the leasing office to inquire about residency, authorities said.
When looking into his criminal past, troopers said they found “previous charges in California related to kidnapping, assault with intent to rape, and assault with a deadly weapon. Karba also had arrests in Florida for stalking, attempting to lure or entice a child under 12, and loitering or prowling.”
Karba has since been charged with stalking, following or harassing, luring or enticing a child under 12 and loitering or prowling and was booked into the Lee County Jail with no bond.