Golden Gate man charged with sexually assaulting girl in 2007

CCSO

• Name: WATSONY PHARISIEN
• Charge: DWLSR HABITUAL OFFENDER
• Residence: Naples, FL
• Age: 31
• Occupation: REFUSED
• Case #: Not yet available

A 31-year-old Golden Gate man was arrested Friday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a girl in 2007.

Watsony Pharisien, of the 4900 block of 22nd Ave. SW, faces a charge of sexual battery to a child younger than 12 years old.

The mother of the girl met with Collier County sheriff's deputies in June, telling them Pharisien had assaulted her daughter Feb. 14, 2007, when the girl was 8 and the suspect would've been 27. The crime occurred at a home on Hunter Boulevard in Golden Gate, deputies reported.

The child told deputies her mom and stepfather had left their home to celebrate Valentine's Day. The girl said she fell asleep in the living room and awoke to Pharisien touching her private area. She repeatedly told Pharisien to leave her alone but he continued to sexually assault her. Pharisien fell asleep on the floor next to her and she remained on the floor and cried, deputies reported.

The girl, who later moved to Orlando, was visiting Collier County in October 2010 to attend a birthday party, which Pharisien was also attending. He asked her to not tell anyone what had happened in 2007.

After the June meeting with deputies, the girl agreed to undergo a medical exam Wednesday in Collier, where a physician found evidence of a sexual assault.

Deputies arrested Pharisien, who was in the Collier County jail on unrelated charges. Pharisien denied ever touching the girl inappropriately, reports stated.