Alain Luis Forget, 58, of Lakeland, was detained by agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office yesterday shortly after 10:15 a.m. in the city of Eustis, according to inmate records posted online.
He was held on charges of lewd and lascivious battery on a child less than 16-years-old and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance to a minor, according to a media release.
Police said the victim—who has not been named—was targeted shortly after Christmas Day two years ago. Investigators allege the suspect took the teenager to a residence in rural Hamilton County on December 27, 2017—with permission from the child’s own grandmother.
It was later determined that the home had belonged to Forget’s deceased father. Approximately two days later, Forget called an ambulance after the boy was discovered unresponsive.
The victim was pronounced dead at a local hospital. An autopsy that was conducted in January last year confirmed the teenager had morphine and Xanax in his system at the time of his death. The state’s medical examiner ruled the victim died from pneumonia and drug toxicity.
Investigators said sexual abuse allegations were made against Forget during interviews with the victims’ family members and “others who were familiar” with the suspect. Agents determined Forget gave the autistic teenager drugs and then sexually battered him prior to his death.
Forget has a criminal history in Florida, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. According to the newspaper, he was sentenced to three years in prison for indecent assault on a child under 16 in 1995. He served fewer than 12 months in state prison—between September 1995 to July 1996. In 2000, Forget was sentenced to a year in prison for cocaine possession and served 11 months.
He was arrested again yesterday and was booked into Lake County Jail. Records show he was held without bond. Law enforcement said he may face additional criminal charges. Forget is believed to have residences in both Lakeland and Sorrento in Lake County, Florida.
Agents said there could be additional victims. The Department of Law Enforcement has asked anyone with additional information to contact the Live Oak Field Office at (800) 226-5630.
In Florida, Lewd or Lascivious Battery is punishable by up to fifteen years in prison, 15 years of sex offender probation and a $10,000 fine, according to Orlando law firm Richard E. Hornsby, P.A.
