DeLand Man, 28, Charged In Sexual Battery Of 14-Year-Old Tampa Girl He Met On Snapchat

Date Added: November 21, 2023 4:31 pm

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

DELAND MAN, 28, CHARGED IN SEXUAL BATTERY OF 14-YEAR-OLD TAMPA GIRL HE MET ON SNAPCHAT

A DeLand man has been arrested in the sexual battery of a 14-year-old girl he met on Snapchat, picked up in Tampa and drove back to Volusia County.

Derran L. Bibbs, 28 (DOB 10/22/1995), of 426 N. Adelle Ave., DeLand, is charged with sexual battery, kidnapping, and interference with child custody in the incident which was reported to Volusia sheriff’s detectives on Monday.

The 14-year-old Tampa girl told detectives she’d been communicating with Bibbs on Snapchat, and asked him to pick her up from a friend’s apartment on Sunday night. After picking her up, Bibbs started driving the girl back to Volusia County. The girl told detectives she repeatedly asked to be taken home or let out of the car, but Bibbs refused, eventually pulling over off I-4, where he sexually battered her inside the car.

After the incident, the girl contacted a friend, who contacted 911 in Volusia County. A search began for Bibbs’ vehicle, and it was soon spotted by a Lake Helen police officer on I-4 around the 114 mile marker near DeLand. The Lake Helen officer and VSO deputies initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, detained Bibbs and found the girl in the back seat. She was taken to a hospital for evaluation and reunited with a guardian.

The investigation indicates Bibbs posed as a 17-year-old in his interactions with the victim and other potential victims.

Additional charges are possible as the investigation continues. Anyone who has information about additional victims is urged to contact the VSO Child Exploitation Unit at 386-323-3574.