Married Man Arrested For Sexual Battery On "Step-Child

OKEECHOBEE, FL. -- The Okeechobee Sheriff's office said today charges for custodial sexual battery have resulted in the arrest of James Hoult Causier, age 39 of 1465 SE 23 Street, Okeechobee, FL.

James "Jim" Hoult Causier a married man was said on or about 12/01/2013 to 03/16/2013, to commit the offense of custodial Sexual battery on a child, in that he had "penis to vaginal penetration and union of the sexual organs" on at least several occasions in the last four months and while doing so was in the role of “step-parent" providing guidance, food, and housing.

On 03/10/2014, Deputy Murrish (a School Resource Deputy) took the initial report from a concerned person that James "Jim" Causier was having a sexual relationship with a 16 year old girl. Deputy Murrish did find the allegations to be credible from this witness and did bring the child to the Sheriff's Office for further investigation by a detective says a probable cause statement of the Sheriff's Office:

"On 03/10/2014, I, Detective Ted Van Deman, was called to investigate this matter and on 03/10/2014 spoke with the Concerned citizen, who wished to remain unnamed. This witness advised that the victim bragged to her, on many occasions, that she was involved in a Sexual relationship with Jim Causier. When asked, she said that the victim told her that it was vaginal, oral, and anal sex with Jim Causier. At first, this witness was dubious about the allegations. However, the victim was shown text messages and photographs, between the victim and suspect that confirmed that this 16 year old girl was having sex with the
suspect. 

"The text messages were discussions about arranging an opportunity for the victim and suspect to have sex and when would be the best time so as not to tip off the suspect's wife.


"On 03/10/2014 a recorded interview with the Victim was made and it was explained the four types of abuse and asked if she was abused in any manner. She denied any abuse. 

"The child was then questioned about her relationship with Causier. She was directly confronted with the facts and the child refused to answer at first. Eventually, she did state that she and Causier were having vaginal to penis sexual penetration sex. (she denied the anal and oral sex) This has happened on two or three occasions. It happened in the kitchen area of the suspect's house while the suspect's wife and children were
asleep. 

"She also admitted that there was text message (sexting) of a sexual nature between the two on several occasions. She told me that nude pictures have been exchanged between the two. She was very upset at telling me this as she was the instigator in this sexual activity and she did not mind having sex
with this man. 

"When questioned about the danger of pregnancy or STD, she said that he had a vasectomy and used a condom. The victim was very angry at the investigator because she said the bringing this forward was against her wishes.

"The suspect phone was seized in order to later obtain a Search warrant.  On 03/10/2014, an interview was conducted with the Suspect. He was read his Miranda warnings. He stated he would talk. When asked about his relationship with the victim, he said that he and his wife have provided a “step-parent" relationship with the child because the home life of the child was not a good situation. 

"He denied any improper actions. Then he said that the victim has been sexual aggressive towards him. He
claimed to have a note in the safe where she indicated she wanted sex from him. He denied that he had sexual contact with her when asked about texts messages between him and her, he said that they do communicate by texts. He denied it was sexual content. But when he was informed that a warrant was being sought for the phone, he relented and advised that he did have sexual conversation with the child by text. 

"When asked if he was sexually attracted to the child, he initial said no and later said he was. He offered no excuse why he did not expel the child from his house to prevent the temptations. He was asked if he had sexual contact with the child and he said no. He later changed and said that one time, while on prescription ambien (a sleeping medication), he was caught by his wife rubbing his penis on the child's backside in the kitchen. 

"However, they were both clothed and he did not realize what he was doing because of the prescription drug he was on."

On 03/10/2014, Jim Causier was arrested and he was taken to the Okeèchobee County Jail.

UPDATE: Causier in Okeechobee Circuit Court Case #14-00161 was given probation for 2 years and 10 months and adjudication withheld for the felony charge of Willful Child Abuse, with probation starting March 8, 2016.