Alachua police arrest man on charages of molestation

Police have arrested an Alachua man on molestation charges.

Lotus Mango Blanchard, age 30, of Alachua was arrested Friday morning at his home. 

According to a police report filed by the Alachua Police Department (APD), the child claims the molestation occurred about 10 times.  The incidents date back to as early as December 2010.  The last such incident reportedly took place in July.

Blanchard has been charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of persons less than 16 years of age.  The first charge is for lewd or lascivious battery.  The second charge is lewd or lascivious molestation.  Both charges are second degree felonies.  If convicted, Blanchard could be sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison for each of the felonies, APD officials say.

Blanchard was released from jail earlier this week on a $50,000 bond and ordered not to have any contact with the victim.