Arson Destroys Home Of Man Charged With Molesting Child

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL - A fire destroyed the home of a 60-year-old New Port Richey man accused of molesting an 8-year-old girl in the parking lot of a McDonald's in Hudson. Spencer Keith Joyce was charged with capital sexual battery last month. Authorities believe the fire at his home Friday morning was arson.

His mobile home was engulfed in flames when firefighters responded to the fire at 12145 Havana Ave. about 6 a.m. No one was home at the time. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is “an intentionally set fire” and the Pasco County Fire Marshal's Office and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office are jointly investigating.

Last month, deputies said Joyce, the child, and the child's caregiver drove to McDonald's for food. The caregiver left Joyce and the child in the car and when he returned he saw Joyce molesting the young girl, an arrest report said. The caregiver then grabbed the suspect and hit him several times in an attempt to keep him at the scene until deputies arrived, according to the report.

Deputies responded to the scene and Joyce was arrested. Joyce told deputies that the victim "asked him for help to urinate," the arrest report said. He denied the incident was "sexual in nature."

Image via Shutterstock; other images via Pasco County Sheriff's Office