VENICE MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUAL BATTERY

A VENICE MAN WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AFTER AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED HE HAD SEX WITH A TEENAGE BOY.  SARASOTA COUNTY DETECTIVES SAY 53 YEAR OLD WILLIAM WERT ENGAGED IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH THE FOURTEEN YEAR OLD NOKOMIS BOY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND JANUARY.  THE TEEN’S FATHER CONTACTED THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AFTER FINDING INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES FROM THE SUSPECT ON HIS SON’S PHONE.  WERT LISTS HIS OCCUPATION AS A FRIAR WITH THE ORDER OF THE CARMELITES, THE ORGANIZATION THAT OWNS HIS HARBOR DRIVE RESIDENCE.  IT’S UNCLEAR WHETHER HE IS AFFILIATED WITH A LOCAL CHURCH.  WERT WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AT HIS RESIDENCE AND WAS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF LEWD OR LASCIVIOUS BATTERY ON A CHILD.  HE IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND IN THE SARASOTA COUNTY JAIL, BUT THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON WERT OR HIS ACTIVITIES CAN CONTACT DETECTIVE GREGORY IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AT 861-4923.