Man arrested; connected to previously missing Bunche Beach paddleboarder

LEE COUNTY, Fla. - The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of providing drugs and alcohol to a teenager, adding that this is connected to a previously missing paddleboarder in Bunche Beach.

 

Deputies arrested Worden Bourn, 63, following an investigation conducted by the sheriff’s office major crimes unit.

  

The 17-year-old was reported missing and endangered on Sunday and was found safe later that day with the assistance of the sheriff’s office, along with the United States Coast Guard and additional first responders.

 

Upon review of the teenager, deputies reported the individual was intoxicated and under the influence of narcotics while on the sailboat.

 

Their investigation yielded that Bourn was in contact with the teenager and allegedly provided them with the abovementioned drugs and alcohol. 

 

Bourn, who according to LCSO, is a registered sexual offender but is not explicitly prohibited from contact with children; however, members of the Sexual Offender & Predator Unit are conducting a detailed review to ensure that he is in compliance with his sexual offender registry obligations.

 

The teenager has not disclosed any accounts of sexual abuse at this time, according to the sheriff's office.

 

This case remains under investigation.

Bourn was taken into custody and remains inside the Lee County Jail. He faces drug delivery charges to a minor and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.