Mayor Jeff Krull

Disturbing news from the Orlando Sentinel-

MASCOTTE - Criminal charges against Mayor Jeff Krull, who was arrested on Monday night on sex charges, relate to touching and rubbing of children who visited his home, police Chief Steve Allen said this morning.

Krull is accused of molesting two girls and one boy, ranging in age from 13 to 16, according to Allen.

"I was very sad and disappointed," Allen, who arrested Krull before a City Council meeting, said at a news conference at the police department. "It was the saddest day of my job." He said he had no choice but to arrest Krull, and that if he can prevent one child from being molested it's worth it.

Police in the southwest Lake County city arrested Krull on eve of today's city elections and Krull's bid for a second term as mayor.

Krull, 66, was charged with six counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and one count of showing lewd and lascivious material to a minor. Allen would not say who reported the allegations against Krull except that it was not the victims or their parents. A computer taken from Krull's home will be searched for child pornography, Allen added.

Meanwhile, Krull was taken to South Lake Hospital on Monday night with chest pain.

Krull's longtime girlfriend and Mascotte council member-elect Barbara Tillman said she and Krull drove to the city building on Sunset Avenue just before 6:30 p.m. Monday. Tillman said Krull got out of the vehicle and spoke with Allen before the arrest. Officers then took Krull to the city police station. He was expected to be booked at the Lake County Jail after his release from the hospital.

Krull is up for re-election today. I would think this news came too late to affect the outcome but we'll have to wait and see.

The Sentinel article offers little information on what Krull is being accused of doing. I'm not passing judgment, but if proved to be true and if Krull used his public office to commit these crimes, its despicable and should make the people of Mascotte sick to their stomachs.

I'll be following developments in this story.

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