Case Explained:This article breaks down the legal background, charges, and implications of Case Explained: St. Lucie County man accused of child abuse; faces several charges – Legal Perspective
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Sheriff’s detectives investigating allegations of child abuse at a north county residence since December have arrested a St. Lucie County man on several charges, including sexual battery and lewd and lascivious behavior.
Deputies with the Patrol Operations Bureau responded in December to the residence in reference to a state Department of Children and Families investigation. During the investigation, deputies determined three children had experienced ongoing child abuse and sexual abuse, according to a sheriff’s news release.
Investigators also learned the alleged abuse occurred across multiple states, including Colorado, Oklahoma, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, Tennessee, and Florida. The Sheriff’s Office is working with law enforcement agencies in those states, including the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office and the Fort Myers and Fort Pierce police departments, according to the news release.
The sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division conducted an extensive follow-up investigation, including multiple interviews with alleged victims and witnesses, according to the release.
Terry Farmer, 40, was arrested Jan. 13, 2026, in connection with this investigation and charged with the following offenses: Eight counts of sexual battery/assault on a child 12 or younger by a person 18 or older; one count of lewd and lascivious behavior with a person under 12 by a person 18 or older; one count of child abuse without great bodily harm; one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
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Farmer is in the St. Lucie County Jail and his bond has been set at $1,725,000.
Sheriff’s officials said the investigation is active and they ask that anyone with information related to this case to contact the sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division at 772-462-7300 or email CrimeTips@stluciesheriff.gov.
No other information was available Jan. 14.