LABELLE — On March 5, at approximately 2:13 p.m. detectives with the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office General Crimes Unit, made an arrest in a 30-year-old sexual battery case that involved several juvenile victims.

In the early part of November 2020, Detectives with the General Crimes Unit received a complaint and information concerning a sexual battery of a child under the age of 12 which occurred approximately thirty years prior. After a four month investigation, detectives identified six separate victims of similar age that had become victims of sexual abuse at the time of the criminal occurrences. HCSO Detectives traveled as far as the western part of North Carolina to interview these victims as well as conducted several search warrants on the suspect’s residence which produced computers containing images of child pornography.

On March 5, at approximately 2:13 p.m, Hendry County detectives obtained an arrest warrant and took 66-year-old Robert Michael Gatch, of LaBelle, into custody.

Robert Gatch, was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual battery of a victim under 12 years of age (capital felony) and 14 counts of possession of child pornography (third degree felony).

The investigation is ongoing and further information is being sought.

“We are committed to this community and work very hard to ensure the safety of all citizens,” said Sheriff Steve Whidden. “We take these offenses very seriously and will not stop until we apprehend the perpetrators of these violent crimes.”