JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4JAX I-TEAM has obtained records showing for years, police didn’t thoroughly investigate allegations against a Jacksonville man now charged with operating a child sex trafficking ring.
Records uncovered by the News4JAX I-TEAM show from 2010 to 2015, multiple people told police Duane Sikes was abusing boys, but JSO’s own records show some of those allegations were never followed up on.
It wasn’t until 2018, when Sikes was investigated, and eventually convicted, for embezzling millions of dollars from his employer, VyStar Credit Union, that investigators made the connection to potential victims, who he’s accused of paying for nude photos.
Sikes is now charged with three counts of child sex trafficking and 50 counts of producing child sexual abuse material.
The News4JAX I-TEAM showed Crime and Safety Analyst, Tom Hackney, the multiple reports on Duane Sikes received starting in 2010.
“I’m embarrassed. I’m flabbergasted,” Hackney said.
He spent nearly three decades as an investigator at JSO, including when these reports were made.
We asked Hackney if he was in the units that would have investigated these complaints.
“At that point in time, 2010, I would have been the Assistant Chief of crimes against persons. So, these are things that would have fallen under my purview. And honestly, they should have been something that I was aware of, but I can only be aware of it if somebody makes me aware of it,” he said. “And you know, the connection with these things are something that should have been moved up the chain of command.”
According to police records and a federal prosecutor, the first report against Sikes came in January of 2010, when a man told police his son was staying with a pedophile named Duane, who gave him money for sexual acts. The child denied it, and the report shows the investigation lasted one hour before the report was closed.
Three months later another report was made, alleging that at Sikes “may be conducting child pornography “ at his home involving someone who’s name is redacted. The person who complained said he was told of the information from several individuals who knew the subject well, whose names he shared with JSO. The complainant also shared the name of a neighbor of Sikes who “has heard suspicious activity through her fence involving the subject and [redacted].” It appears the report was closed.
Records show in 2012, police made more of an effort to interview witnesses after yet another complaint about Sikes possibly abusing a student at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. The child denied it. But later, when Sikes was being sentenced for financial crimes, the child told the court they had been abused but were scared to come forward. The case was closed in 2012 before being reopened when the investigation into Sikes’ financial crimes linked him to the victim through financial records.
Hackney says even in a case where a potential victim denies there is anything wrong, there is more officers can do, like confronting the potential suspect.
“I was a big fan of doing just that when there were times that you couldn’t prove anything...[knock on the door], ‘Hi, I’m so and so with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, this is the allegation that we have. Let’s sit down and talk about it,’” Hackney said.
Two additional reports to JSO were made in 2013 and 2015 about Sikes offering money, alcohol or drugs for photos. In the 2015 report, two people told police victims will sometimes perform sex acts on Sikes or each other, calling Sikes home “a revolving door” and “strongly advis[ing] that he be looked into.”
The officer noted the previous reports involving similar allegations against Sikes, but again, the report was closed without further investigation.
We reached out to JSO for comment. A spokesperson said, “Upon receiving the information at the time, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and our partners at the State Attorney’s Office investigated these reported incidents. It was determined there was not enough probable cause to make an arrest. Please note, that despite the outcomes of the incidents you provided, detectives continued to work methodically, and eventually Mr. Sikes was arrested for three life felonies.”