Teen Being Charged As Adult In Sex Assault, Stalking Cases
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LAUDERDALE LAKES (CBSMiami) – Tyler Casica, just 16 years old, is facing some very adult charges Thursday night.
Investigators with the Broward Sheriff's Office say Casica waited for hours in the dark of night outside a Lauderdale Lakes townhouse for a woman to come home. When she did, detectives say Casica broke in and confronted her.
"He threatened her with rape," said BSO Spokeswoman Joy Ogelsby.
Investigators say Casica sexually assaulted her. They also say the victim managed several things right – such as remaining calm, offering Casica money and telling him that her brother would be coming over shortly. Then, she made a decision.
"She also, finally realizing that she needed to make a more drastic move, pushed past him and that's what forced the suspect out of the home," Oglesby said.
Detectives recovered surveillance video but it would be more than a month until they could link Casica to the crime.
The arrest report says in late August Casica followed a woman who was jogging and loitered outside her home.
Detectives arrested him and connected him through surveillance video to the earlier sexual assault.
"The defendant was wearing identifying basketball shoes and those were seen in the surveillance video," Oglesby said.
The victim from the sexual assault identified Casica as her attacker. The crime left some in this community concerned for their safety.
"It is kind of sickening to know, so close to home," said Craig, a resident, who declined to provide his last name. "We're talking steps away."
Casica, two months shy of his 17th birthday, is likely to spend his birthday in jail. He is being held in the Broward County Jail without bond. He is also being charged as an adult.
"He made deliberate actions to stalk women and in one case at least, enter that woman's home and sexually assault her," said Oglesby. "That's as serious as it gets."
