Escambia County Charges 73-Year-Old With Felonies In Multi-Year Abuse Case

Roger Dale Sanspree, 73, now faces four felony counts in Escambia County after detectives alleged he abused a female juvenile relative over several years. The charges stem from an investigation that began in September 2026 when authorities received reports of inappropriate conduct. Sanspree was booked into the Escambia County Jail this week and remains held without bond.

The arrest report details two counts of sexual battery by a person in a position of familial or custodial authority. One count involves a victim under 12, while the other involves a victim between 12 and 18. Prosecutors also charged Sanspree with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, covering victims under 12 and between 12 and 16. The allegations center on incidents that primarily occurred while the victim was visiting a residence in Cantonment.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office initially opened the case after a report was filed. A forensic interview took place at the Santa Rosa Kids House, where the victim stated she was 14 years old at the time. Investigators later confirmed the incidents happened at the Cantonment address, prompting a transfer of the case to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit.

Detectives gathered statements, recorded interviews, and written correspondence during their inquiry. The arrest report notes that Sanspree acknowledged engaging in unlawful physical contact with the youth in those written exchanges. The evidence forms the basis for the four felony charges currently lodged against him.

Sanspree’s case involves a cross-county investigative handoff that began in Santa Rosa County before moving to Escambia County. The timeline suggests the alleged abuse spanned multiple years, concluding with the September 2026 report that triggered the formal investigation. The man is 73 and resides in Cantonment.