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Palatka handyman charged in sex assaults
Jul 18, 2008
A 64-year-old Palatka handyman is accused of forcing himself on two women he was helping.
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office arrested Jim Kilburn Bruce of Moores Trail on Wednesday.
Bruce Detective Julie Walker led the investigation after a 52-year-old Palatka woman said she had met Bruce through the community and hired him to do odd jobs around the house. He became increasingly enamored with her and started stopping by her house unannounced and calling her several times a day. On one occasion she said he exposed himself, grabbed her and started groping her, according to a Sheriff's Office news release.
During the investigation, Walker learned of a second woman who described a strikingly similar story. This woman, also 52, said Bruce began doing odd jobs around her house following the death of her husband. He too began dropping by and calling her before she was held down and sexually attacked.
Bruce is charged with attempted sexual battery and sexual battery. He has since been released on $5,000 bond, according to the Sheriff's Office news release.
Detective Julie Walker led the investigation after a 52-year-old Palatka woman said she had met Bruce through the community and hired him to do odd jobs around the house. He became increasingly enamored with her and started stopping by her house unannounced and calling her several times a day. On one occasion she said he exposed himself, grabbed her and started groping her, according to a Sheriff's Office news release.
During the investigation, Walker learned of a second woman who described a strikingly similar story. This woman, also 52, said Bruce began doing odd jobs around her house following the death of her husband. He too began dropping by and calling her before she was held down and sexually attacked.
Bruce is charged with attempted sexual battery and sexual battery. He has since been released on $5,000 bond, according to the Sheriff's Office news release.
Copyright 2008
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