NEWS RELEASE
Palm Coast Man Arrested for Sexually Abusing Two Children
Date:Tuesday, July 28, 2026
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Palm Coast man following a 17-month investigation in which detectives determined he sexually abused two young girls on multiple occasions.
The investigation began in February 2025 after the Florida Department of Children and Families received a report concerning the suspect, Joseph Spector, 38, of Palm Coast, inappropriately touching a minor. A DCF investigator contacted an FCSO school resource deputy to assist with interviewing the victim at her school.
During the initial interview, the victim told the deputy and DCF investigator that Spector had inappropriately touched her breast during an incident in 2022. In a subsequent interview with a First Coast Child Protection Team, the victim further disclosed that Spector had shown her pornographic material, provided her alcohol, and had frequently engaged in “cuddling sessions” multiple times a week, during which he would sexually abuse her. She also advised Spector had sexually abused her sister in the same manner.
The second victim confirmed in an interview the same “cuddling sessions” had occurred to her. She also reported an incident in which Spector had masturbated next to her.
In April 2025, the FCSO Major Case Unit conducted a covert operation in which Spector stated that while he may not remember everything that occurred, he was sorry.
Detectives interviewed Spector in April 2026. During the interview, Spector denied the allegations. When detectives confronted Spector with statements he previously made during the covert operation, he stated that he did not recall making the statements, saying, “I don’t remember, and if it happened, I was drunk.”
On July 25, through investigative means, detectives met Spector at a restaurant in Bunnell. After Spector arrived at the restaurant, Major Case Unit detectives and Community Policing Division deputies apprehended him without incident.
Deputies arrested Spector for two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $150,000 bond.
Left: A deputy arrests Joseph Spector outside a restaurant in Bunnell, Fla., July 25, 2026.
Right: Joseph Spector (Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility mug shot)
“I commend those two brave victims, as this investigation never would have happened without their courage to speak up and come forward with what this pervert did to them,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “From there, this case showed excellent teamwork between our Major Case Unit, the school resource deputy who took the initial report, deputies who assisted in the apprehension, and our partners at the Florida Department of Children and Families during the entire investigation to put this pervert behind bars and held accountable. I hope he goes to prison for a long time.”
Sheriff Staly encourages anyone who is a victim of child sexual abuse or knows someone in Flagler County that is to report it by contacting the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at 386-313-4911. Reports may also be made to the Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline by calling 1-800-962-2873 or using the online reporter portal at reportabuse.myflfamilies.com.