Neighbor arrested for touching underage girl inappropriately, not only with hands, victim says

Neighbor arrested for touching underage girl inappropriately, not only with hands, victim says

UMATILLA, Fla. – A girl had a lot to say about her neighbor, and when she was done telling the police, they arrested him.

“George Richard Mathis had come over to her house, the night prior,” and touched the girl “inappropriately,” the arrest report said.

Ages and some relationships from this Jan. 10 event in Florida were redacted.

“The juvenile victim advised that for the past month,” the officer wrote, “the defendant has been giving her hugs and one time touched her buttock. She further advised that he has kissed her on her lips several times. 

“On 01-10-2025, the juvenile victim advised that the defendant came up behind her and lightly bit her ear, then kissed her on the neck while in the house.

“Later that evening, she advised that she was sitting on the back porch next to the defendant when he pulled her chair closer to him, and started grabbing her arms and inner thighs.”

They were not alone.

Another family member told police, “He was also on the back porch and left the area to use the bathroom. He advised that he had a weird feeling and went back outside, and observed the defendant rubbing the juvenile victim’s inner thigh area. At that time, witness [name] went and got the juvenile victim’s stepfather [name].”

Then, the stepfather said he “went outside and observed the defendant rubbing the juvenile victim’s inner thigh and leg.”

As for Mathis, the arrest report said he denied touching his young neighbor.

That didn’t seem to matter. He was arrested, due to everything else the cop heard, and charged with simple battery-second offense. The first offense, 15 years ago, made it a felony.

Back in 2009, late one summer night, police sent “to a sick person call” found Mathis on the floor.

“He had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person,” the arrest report said. “He also appeared to be visibly intoxicated. [Paramedics] arrived and began to work with defendant Mathis.

“He was very uncooperative, and extremely rude and vulgar, to the EMS crew and everyone else there. He refused treatment several times.

“The EMS crew asked him several questions to see if he was still able to make right-minded decisions. He answered their questions.”

That may have hurt his cause.

Neighbor arrested for touching underage girl inappropriately, not only with hands, victim says
George Richard Mathis was convicted of battery on emergency medical personnel in 2009 and (shown) charged with simple battery-2nd offense, Jan. 11, 2025. (Lake Co. Sheriff’s Office)

The officer said one paramedic, the victim, “began to remove their EMS equipment from defendant Mathis’ arm and such. Victim [name] was clearly wearing the Lake Sumter EMS uniform with his name and agency on it. I observed defendant Mathis grabbed onto victim [name] wrist and would not let go. Victim [name] told him several times to let go of his wrist, but he did not.”

The paramedic wanted to prosecute, so Mathis was arrested for battery on emergency medical personnel, which is a felony.

Authorities took him to the hospital for medical clearance.

“While at the hospital,” the report said, “he was still very rude and uncooperative with the hospital medical staff. He refused all treatment with from [sic] the hospital medical staff.

“They then discarded defendant Mathis.”

A few months later, he changed his plea to no contest and was sentenced to four months in jail, with credit for 69 days served. 

This time, bail for Mathis, 64, was set at $5,000. He quickly paid it and was released after less than two hours in jail.

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