Police say a 50-year-old man was caught sexally abusing a 3-year-old girl by the girl's mother.
Bernard Jones is facing charges of capital sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molestation on a child under 12 and aggravated battery.
According to St. Petersburg police, the girl's mother walked into the girl's bedroom and saw Jones performing a sex act on the child.
The mother called to her teenage son for help, and they wrestled Jones to the floor. During the altercation, Jones bit the son, then escaped and ran to a nearby home, police said.
The mother called police, and officers found Jones and took him into custody.
Police say Jones was known to the family.
Police say Jones is a registered sex offender and that he was arrested in 1990 for entering the bedroom window of a 10-year-old girl and sexually assaulting her in Miami-Dade County.
The prosecutor said he was also convicted in 2001 for kidnapping, burglary and sexual battery.
He made his first appearance in front of Judge Philip Federico on Wednesday.
"You’re charged with a sexual battery on a child 12 years of age or younger," he said. "It’s a no bond. Indicates that you’re previously a registered sex offender. I’m assuming that’s why it came in as a no bond.”
The public defender argued Jones should get a bond, despite being a registered sex offender. Jones told the judge he needs legal help until he can contact his boss, who he said would help him hire an attorney.
Federico said that because of the prior history and the nature of the current charges, Jones' bond has been set at $1.1 million.