Ormond Beach, FL - A man connected to a plot to groom and rape a 3-year-old child is now in custody at Volusia County Jail.
Volusia County Sheriff's Office says 37-year-old Lafe Best of Ormond Beach was arrested yesterday evening (February 5th) for a series of texts containing a plot to rape a 3-year-old girl.
Reports show that Best's arrest stems from another case in Ormond Beach involving his friend and, according to VCSO, sexual partner, 39-year-old Benjamin Worster, who was arrested on molestation and 21 counts of child pornography possession charges.
This investigation was originally launched following the discovery of a series of text messages on Worster's phone.
The 3-year-old victim and her mother had moved into Worster's apartment in December, and not long after the girl would tell her mother that Worster had touched her.
Following an apparent overdose, Worster was taken to the hospital, which left his phone unattended. The mother would check his phone and find a text message thread between himself and Best, describing a plot to groom and rape the 3-year-old girl, whether she was conscious or not.
Some of the messages are as follows:
On Friday (February 2nd), the State Attorney's Office notified a VCSO detective of Best's involvement in the Worster case, and then VCSO took over that aspect of the investigation.
Detectives would eventually execute a search warrant at Best's residence yesterday and discovered what appeared to be child pornography on his cell phone, in addition to his texts to Worster.
Additional charges are expected as the evidence is examined and the investigation continues.
Best was also found to be living in a home with two people who have a child who's about 20 months old. It's not believed the child was a victim of any abuse, however, authorities will continue to follow up as the investigation unfolds.
Best was charged with sexual battery on a child and is currently in custody at Volusia County Jail on no bond. Worster also remains in custody at Volusia County Jail on no bond.