BUSHNELL, Fla. – An elderly sex offender who served more than a decade in prison for lewd or lascivious battery upon a child under 16 is back behind bars. His latest arrest came exactly a month after his release.
Carl Raymond Geer’s girlfriend reported the “sexual battery involving a [redacted] child” back in 2012. Several parts of the arrest report from Florida are redacted and two women were referred to as his girlfriend.
“She reported to me,” a detective wrote, “that she actually witnessed this incident involving [name] (female child).”
The woman told authorities she drove to the child’s home, where she used to live, “for the purpose of checking on the well-being of the child, due to the fact she had heard of a school bus fire in the area, and she wanted to ensure the child was not riding that bus.
“Upon entry, [she] advised she did not see anyone until she approached Carl Geer’s bedroom. She observed Mr. Geer on top of the [victim] on his bed and his pants were down by his feet. She observed his body was between the child’s legs and the child was on her back with her knees bent upward. [She] advised she announced her presence and asked Mr. Geer what he was doing to the child. She advised Mr. Geer moved back away from the child…”
The arrest report contained descriptions and continued, “Mr. Geer pulled up his pants and began to argue with her that she didn’t see anything. [The girlfriend] stated he verbally threatened her and told her that she better not tell on him, because she owes him for living there for free. She advised they engaged in a verbal argument and she told him that she was taking the child with her, but Mr. Geer refused to let her take the child away from the residence at this time. [She] stated she stayed at the residence until Mr. Geer’s girlfriend [name] and [someone else] returned home.”
Geer was on probation at the time, so he was held without bond. He’d been convicted of battery and discharging a firearm in public.
Interestingly, this woman was listed as Geer’s next of kin in all three of his arrest reports, but as “friend” in 2010, “acquaintance” in this report, and “friend” again in a report stemming from this case, a month later.
Announcement of No Information, May 14, 2012 by Lenny Cohen on Scribd
This case took two years to go to trial. First, prosecutors quickly dropped two counts of sexual battery on a child over the age of 12, calling that a “filing decision.”
Jury Instructions, May 6, 2014 by Lenny Cohen on Scribd
Then, the jury acquitted him of sexual battery upon a child under 12, a capital felony, but convicted him of lewd or lascivious battery upon a child under 16.
Geer was sentenced to 15 years in state prison. He served more than a decade and was released this past Jan. 7. The next day, he registered as a sex offender. The next month, he’d be back behind bars.
A month after Geer’s arrest, he was charged with witness tampering, child abuse, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and violation of an injunction for protection.
An investigation found in the month after Geer’s arrest, he made “approximately 52 recorded jail phone calls” to his girlfriend, and he “instructed [her] to put the child victim on the phone” twice, which she did.
“During the calls,” the arrest report said, “the defendant verbally threatened and intentionally inflicted mental injury upon the victim.
“The following details were gained while reviewing the jail calls. The defendant told [the victim] that they both engaged in multiple acts of ‘consensual sex.’ The defendant told [the victim] that he had pictures and video images of them doing these sexual acts, and he verbally threatened to use those images against her. He told [the victim] he would turn the images over to a detective and she would be arrested if she didn’t change her story. He told [the victim] that she ‘gave in’ to him, and he did not force her to do it.”
That wasn’t nearly all.
“During numerous calls,” the arrest report continued, “the defendant instructed [the girlfriend] to contact the child victim to get her to change her story. He told her to offer the victim anything she wanted (including money). [She] told the defendant that she did what he asked her to do. She also told the defendant that she personally told the victim she is a ‘murderer’ for killing him. The defendant told [her] to tell the victim that he is going to ask for the ‘electric chair’ and she will ‘throw the switch’ and watch.
“The defendant told [her] to offer [the victim] his narcotic medication that ‘she likes’ to get her to change her statement. The defendant instructed [the girlfriend] to ‘set up’ the child victim by hiding ‘pills’ (his narcotic medication) inside her bag. The defendant subsequently contacted the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, by an inmate request form, to report illegal drug activity at the child victim’s school. Upon receiving the inmate request form, [a detective] made contact with the defendant at the jail, and the defendant attempted to report that the child victim has been stealing his medication.”
The arrest report also mentioned the girlfriend “intentionally allowed the defendant to talk to [the victim] on the phone,” even though there was a protection injunction. She was eventually sentenced to five years of probation for child abuse without great bodily harm, and her probation ended early, after less than three years.
As for Geer, he was arrested behind bars and signed paperwork that he would have “ABSOLUTELY NO CONTACT WHATSOEVER” with either of the girlfriend or victim, should he get out on bail.
This case also wound its way through the judicial system for two years. Prosecutors ended up dropping the charges after Geer was sentenced to prison, writing, “The underlying offenses related to this witness tampering case have been brought to trial.
Nolle Prosequi, July 28, 2014 by Lenny Cohen on Scribd
“The defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 15 yrs in the Department of Corrections. It is in the best interest of the victim to discontinue prosecution of these charges at this time.”
Order on Motion for Post Conviction Relief, July 6, 2017 by Lenny Cohen on Scribd
Geer spent his time in prison fighting for his release, or at least hearings that could lead to his release.
Order on Motion for Rehearing, July 28, 2017 by Lenny Cohen on Scribd
Every one of his attempts failed.
Order on Motion to Correct Illegal Sentence, March 9, 2020 by Lenny Cohen on Scribd
A few years into his sentence, Geer alleged “the court failed to assign experts to determine his mental competency.”
The judge, who had overseen all three of Geer’s criminal cases – and his girlfriend’s – denied the motion.
Order Denying Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, June 17, 2024 by Lenny Cohen on Scribd
Even last summer, the Florida Supreme Court denied a second appeal.
Geer, now 80 years old, was arrested for a parole violation on Feb. 7, exactly one month after his release from prison. He’s being held without bond.
What he did before the arrest is not available. No dockets from any of his criminal cases continue into 2025.
STORIES INVOLVING INJUNCTIONS FOR PROTECTION:
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