38-year-old Palm Coast resident Joseph Spector was arrested on Saturday for the alleged sexual abuse of two minors, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office announced. Spector was the subject of a 17-month investigation that culminated in two felony charges.
The start of the investigation came after a report of abuse was made to the Florida Department of Children and Families. In these allegations, Spector was said to have touched one minor victim inappropriately. An investigator with the DCF made contact with one of the FCSO’s school resource deputies.
Next, an interview was conducted with the victim. According to the FCSO, she told the DCF investigator and school resource deputy that Spector touched her breast in 2022. In a later interview with the First Coast Child Protection Team, the girl stated Spector showed her pornographic content and gave her alcohol.
The encounters between Spector and the victim allegedly involved close physical ‘cuddling’ several times a week. In these periods, Spector allegedly sexually abused her. As investigators learned more about these apparent incidents they were also made aware the victim’s sister was also touched similarly.
Upon interviewing the sister, investigators were told that Spector had similar sessions of close physical contact with her as well. During at least one of these, he was said to have sexually gratified himself next to her.
Spector was the subject of a covert operation by the FCSO Major Case Unit in April 2025. According to the FCSO, he stated he didn’t remember all that was said to have occurred, but that he was sorry.
An interview with Spector was conducted in April 2026. During this, Spector reportedly told investigators he was intoxicated when he made his prior statements during the covert operation. “I don’t remember, and if it happened, I was drunk,” he said per the FCSO.
On Saturday, July 25 Spector was found at a restaurant in Bunnell. He was placed under arrest, charged with two counts of lewd/lascivious molestation. Since then Spector has been in custody at the county jail on $150,000 bond. He has no prior criminal bookings on record in Flagler County.
