Lehigh Acres kidnapping, sexual assault suspect faces judge

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William Devon Cole. Photo via the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

FORT MYERS, Fla. A 33-year-old man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a young girl in Fort Myers had an arraignment Monday morning.

William Devon Cole, of Paul Avenue in Lehigh Acres, is facing charges of kidnapping/false imprisonment of child with sexual battery, sexual assault/battery to a child 12 years of age and younger and cruelty towards a child without great bodily harm, according to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. He is being held on a $135,000 bond for all charges.

Cole was spotted with the girl on May 2 at a Home Depot, and again at a drug house, according to a testimony from the girl’s mother in a report. The girl’s mother reported her disappearance just before midnight.

The girl was found with Cole’s vehicle at around 5 a.m. on May 3 in the area of Cranford and Lafayette streets. Cole was later found hiding behind a home on the 2700 block of St. Charles Street.

The girl’s age is unclear.

Cole’s next court appearance will take place at 8:30 a.m. on June 12 for an alleged parole violation.

His next court appearance concerning the charges he’s facing will happen on Aug. 2.

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