A Marietta man was arrested Thursday in Manatee County, Fla., for allegedly raping an 8-year-old girl in the summer and fall of 2011.
Wilburn E. Bever, 47, of 378 Morris Loop Road, Marietta, had previously been arrested and charged with gross sexual imposition on June 7 when he was accused of inappropriate sexual contact with a 6-year-old girl and the 8-year-old.
A search warrant was executed at Bever's residence at that time, where a computer was seized.
"Through the forensic analysis of that computer we were able to uncover additional information that indicated he was involved in much more serious crimes," said Washington County Sheriff's Det. Scott Parks.
Searching the computer seized in June, Parks was able to locate emails Bever sent to another person that described his actions with the two victims, particularly the 8-year-old.
"We also found communications that indicated he was sort of fantasizing about another victim," said Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks.
Fact Box
What's next
Wilburn E. Bever remains incarcerated in Manatee County pending an extradition hearing, expected to take place this morning.
If he waives extradition, Bever will be returned to Washington County to face the charges. If he does not waive extradition, the sheriff's office plans to obtain a governor's warrant for his arrest.
Bever posted a $15,000 bond following his arrest on the third-degree felony gross sexual imposition charge. A third-degree felony carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. First-degree felonies carry a maximum sentence of 11 years confinement.
"If he's convicted of what we believe we can probably convict him of he's going to go away for a long time," Parks said.
Charges against Bever resulted when the two victims told officials with Children's Services that Bever had engaged in sexual activity with them at his residence on Morris Loop Road.
"They (Children's Services) are very good at what they do, and they've been able to assist us in this investigation," Mincks said.
Interviewed at the time of his arrest in June, Bever told police he had the 8-year-old touch him inappropriately.
After posting his bond, Bever was assisting his sister move to Florida, and when the additional information was uncovered officials with the Washington County Sheriff's Office contacted police in Florida to make the arrest, Mincks said.
Bever remains incarcerated in Manatee County pending an extradition hearing, expected to take place this morning.
If he waives extradition, Bever will be returned to Washington County to face the charges. If he does not waive extradition, the sheriff's office plans to obtain a governor's warrant for his arrest.
The investigation is ongoing, and further analysis of the computer is expected to result in additional charges against Bever.
"We've got one spoke in a big wheel," Parks said.
