HOLLISTER, FL — A 68-year-old Putnam County man has been jailed without bond after a 16-year-old girl revealed he forced her to sign a written “consent contract” to continue a sexual relationship he initiated through a mobile dating application.
Ralph Heagy was taken into custody on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by detectives with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO). Heagy faces severe felony charges related to child sexual abuse and injury following a multi-jurisdictional response.
Inter-County Travel and the “Consent Contract”
The investigation was set in motion on June 24 when law enforcement authorities in Gainesville, Florida, contacted PCSO detectives regarding a suspected ongoing sexual assault case involving a minor.
During a specialized Child Protective Team interview, the 16-year-old victim disclosed that she originally met Heagy on a digital dating application in April 2026. According to investigative reports, the teenager explicitly told Heagy she was only 16 years old during their second face-to-face encounter.
Upon learning her true age, Heagy allegedly drafted a physical contract for “consent” and forced the minor to sign it in a bizarre attempt to shield himself from criminal liability. Over the next two months, Heagy routinely picked the victim up from Gainesville and drove her across county lines to his residence on Paul Drive in Hollister, where the abuse occurred. The victim stated that Heagy provided her with cash and purchased food, underwear, and a purse.
Gas Station Argument Leads to Escape
The situation escalated on Wednesday, June 24, when Heagy again brought the victim to his Hollister home. Following an attempted sexual assault, Heagy began driving her back toward Gainesville.
While in transit, the pair engaged in a heated verbal dispute inside the vehicle. The victim reported that she desperately grabbed the car’s steering wheel during the argument, prompting Heagy to repeatedly strike her hands. The victim managed to escape the vehicle when Heagy stopped at a gas station in Gainesville, where she immediately alerted individuals who notified law enforcement.
Search Warrant Executed
Working rapidly to preserve digital and physical evidence, PCSO detectives secured both an arrest warrant for Heagy and a felony search warrant for his Paul Drive property the same evening.
Tactical units surrounded the residence, and Heagy surrendered to containment teams without further incident. He was transported to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, where he remains held in continuous custody without the benefit of bond.
Urgent Parental Warning: Following this arrest, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office issued an explicit warning to the community regarding digital safety, stating: “We again cannot stress the importance of monitoring your child’s phone, apps and social media at all ages.”