Man Faces Pretrial Detention Hearing for Life-Felony Child Molestation Charge

Tony Travis Slater, 44, is set to appear in court Thursday morning for a pretrial detention hearing in his child molestation case, where Judge Suzanne Wilson Bullard will decide if he should be granted bond.

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Slater on June 11.

The police investigation began on May 24 after the victim made statements to her mother indicating that Slater had molested her. When questioned by police, Slater denied any wrongdoing and reportedly claimed that he “simply readjusted the victim in her bed as she was sleeping in an uncomfortable position.”

Because the victim is under 12, (in this case five years old), Slater faces a Life-Felony and could be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty. 

Slater made numerous allegations towards the five-year-old victim in an attempt to explain her statements. 

“It is apparent that [Slater] intentionally touched the genital area of the five-year-old victim in a lewd or lascivious manner,” reported Deputy Lexi O’Steen. “[Slater] is being charged with one count of lewd or lascivious molestation…” 

The pretrial detention motion notes that the victim's statements to her mother and forensic investigators have remained consistent.