Niceville teen facing molestation charges after allegedly groping girls at Ruckel dance

NICEVILLE — A 14-year-old is facing criminal charges after allegedly groping several young girls at a middle school dance.

The teenage Niceville boy was arrested following an investigation into lewd behavior that occurred at a Ruckel Middle School dance on Dec. 10, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office news release.

A school resource officer on duty at the dance was informed by several female students that they were inappropriately touched by a male student, the release said. Several girls stated that 14-year-old touched them on the breast and buttocks without consent.

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After a thorough investigation involving numerous interviews, the teen has been charged with lewd and lascivious molestation. Additional charges are pending, according to the release.

The teen was arrested Thursday afternoon and transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

The incident caused a stir among area parents, many of whom voiced concerns that the chaperones and security on the campus should have been able to stop the incident before it escalated.

In a Monday interview with the Daily News, Steve Horton, the district's deputy superintendent, said the school system was taking the incident "very seriously" and that the district and the school resource officer had launched an immediate investigation.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Ruckel Middle School girls say Niceville boy touched them without consent