[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 04/30/20]
CLERMONT, Florida — An investigation into a child witnessing lewd and lascivious behavior that began in Santa Rosa County ended in Clermont with the arrest of a local woman earlier this month.
While reviewing jail inmate visitation videos from the Santa Rosa County Jail in the Panhandle, a detective with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office came across a video of a male and female masturbating in front of a 6-year-old child.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s detective immediately identified the male inmate as Tathan Fields, 26, and found information indicating the female, identified as Noelle Leigh Rascati, lived in Wildwood. Wildwood Police investigated and interviewed Rascati’s ex-boyfriend and he gave them her correct address in Clermont, according to a probable cause affidavit. The man also identified the child in the video. Due to heavy redaction, Rascati’s relationship to the boy is unknown.
A detective with Clermont Police Department began investigating and reviewed the video that was recorded March 25. In the video, Rascati, who is completely naked, can be seen masturbating while a 6-year-old boy stands next to the bed. Nearly five minutes into the video Rascati retrieves a sex toy from the closet and proceeds to use it on video, in front of the boy. More than 10 minutes into the video, she uses an assortment of sex toys while the child walks around in the background talking.
Clermont Police determined Rascati, 32, did live in Clermont and a warrant was issued for her arrest for lewd and lascivious exhibition on a victim less than 16. She was picked up in Clermont April 22. She was released from the Lake County Jail on $2,000 bond.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
