A 20-year-old Lecanto man, arrested in connection with a case involving sex with a 16-year-old Homosassa girl, has a background as a registered sexual offender.

Arrested today was Gordon Keller Rowland III, of 350 W. Wolfe Point in Lecanto.

The young girl told investigators that she and Rowland first became involved when she was 15 years old, and they were in her bedroom. She also said that, at Rowland's request, she had since sent explicit photos to him.

The girl's parents said they were aware that the two were in a relationship, and that arguing with her was not fruitful. The parents said that, after a while, Rowland and the girl were eventually allowed to be unsupervised in her bedroom.

She later told her parents about the sex acts, the arrest report says.

Although Rowland refused to speak with investigators, a background check showed he was a registered sex offender, who was on probation for lewd and lascivious battery.

Rowland was charged with one count of lewd and lascivious battery on a victim between the ages of 12 and 16, and bond was set at $5,000.

He was also charged for violating probation, and bond was set in that incident at none.