News and Investigations

The Special Victims Unit from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Bartow man Wednesday evening, October 7, 2026, following their investigation into allegations of ongoing sexual battery against a child. 

The investigation began early on Wednesday, after the victim told a school guidance counselor about the abuse, and the counselor in turn notified the PCSO’s School Resource Deputy assigned to the school.

According to the victim’s allegations, the suspect had molested, performed oral sex, and digitally penetrated the victim, starting about a year-and-a-half ago, with the most recent occurrence being about a week ago.

During an interview with detectives, the suspect provided a detailed account of his abuse of the victim. 

According to the arrest affidavit, the suspect “stated that he knew he was wrong and continued the conduct.”

The suspect also confessed that all of the incidents occurred at his home. 

37-year-old Joel Arias was arrested and taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center. He was charged with the following:

- Lewd Molestation by Adult to a Juvenile Victim under 12 (FC, 10-counts)
- Lewd Molestation by Adult to a Juvenile Victim over 12 (FL, 10-counts)
- Sexual Battery by Adult to a Juvenile over 12 (F1, 15-counts)
- Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, Juvenile Victim over 12 (F2, 10-counts)
- Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition (F2, 10-counts)
- Battery of a Juvenile (F3)

“As it stands now, the young victim appears to be the only person Joel Arias has abused. But one victim is one too many, and thanks to the thorough work of my detectives and the crimes they charged him with, Joel Arias will likely spend the rest of his life in prison, never able to do any harm another child.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff