Sheriff's Deputy Arrested for Sexual Battery of Teen

A Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl at her Apollo Beach home and his Riverview home.

Detectives with the sheriff's Internal Affairs Section arrested William Best, 10809 Dixon St., Riverview, today and charged him with sexual battery and lewd and lascivious conduct.

The arrest followed an investigation initiated after the sheriff's office received information from the victim's mother that 39-year-old Best, a patrol deputy, was possibly engaged in an improper relationship with her daughter.

Investigators interviewed the teen and concluded there was probable cause for  Best's arrest.

Best became acquainted with the teen through her mother. There is no evidence that Best engaged in any of the alleged activities while on duty or used his position to intimidate the victim. The offenses took place on more than one occasion at multiple locations in southern Hillsborough County.

Best was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Orient Road Jail where he is being held on no bond. Best also was suspended without pay pending termination proceedings.

The sheriff's office declined to comment further on the arrest to avoid impeding the prosecution of the case or causing the victim additional pain.

Best has been employed by the sheriff's office since 2001, assigned to District IV as a traffic enforcement deputy. The district runs from Tampa city limits on the west side to the Polk County line on the east side. Also, from Causeway Boulevard on the north side and south to the Manatee County line.

The Greater Brandon area is covered by both District II and District IV.