Former Okaloosa man accused of 1999 sexual battery

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) said it has arrested a former Okaloosa resident in a 1999 sexual battery case.

According to the OCSO, 24 years ago, a woman reported being sexually assaulted in the Poquito Bayou area near Shalimar. The suspect in that case, now reportedly aged 60 and living under an alias, is jailed in Okaloosa County.

Charles Craig Senior was recently transferred to the Okaloosa County Jail from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office in California, the OCSO said. Craig is accused of sexual battery in the early morning of March 11, 1999.

The victim says on that date, she was leaving El Villa’s Lounge in Mary Esther when a man who identified himself as “Ron” offered her a ride. He allegedly drove her to an area near Sunset Lane in Poquito Bayou, grabbed her by the throat, and threatened to break her neck if she didn’t comply with his demands.

“After the sexual battery, he released the victim at the intersection of State Road 89 and State Road 85 before a passerby picked her up and took her to the Niceville Police Department. A sexual assault kit and other items of evidence were collected,” the OCSO said.

In February 2020, evidence was sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a new examination, and a DNA profile was acquired, reportedly matching Craig.

The OCSO said it determined Craig was living under the alias of Ronald Grisby and, in February 1999, had listed his address as Destin.

According to the OCSO, after extensive efforts to locate him, Craig was finally found in California and signed a waiver of extradition back to Florida in late February.

“I’m so proud of the determination and ongoing efforts to seek justice demonstrated by our deputies,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden.

“It’s rewarding when cold cases heat up again, leading to an arrest that’s been a long time in the making.”