Cocoa Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Step-daughter
By Space Coast Daily // May 10, 2012
Sex Crimes
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Police have a man in custody and charges are pending against his wife following an investigation into child sexual abuse.
Abdul Cunningham of Rockledge, 37, was charged with lewd and lacivious molestation, lewd and lascivious conduct and lewd and lascivious exhibition, said Barbara Matthews, Cocoa Police Department public infomation officer.
Cunningham’s minor step-daughter told investigators sometime last year that a male family member had been bothering her sexually when the family lived in Cocoa.
The girl later recanted that story and both police and Department of Children and Families investigations were dropped, Matthews said.
However, when the family moved to Rockledge recently, the girl told investigators that she was telling the truth, but her mother had threatened her to recant her story.
In light of this new information, Cocoa Police arrested Cunningham because the crimes occurred in Cocoa.
Cunningham’s wife’s name was not released by police as she is currently being questioned by detectives and charges are pending against her.
The girl and her siblings have been removed from the family home and placed under the protection of DCF.
Cunningham has a long criminal history including convictions for sale and possession of drugs, aggravated assault, domestic violence, battery and resisting arrest.
