Spring Hill man accused of having sex with 14-year-old girl

SPRING HILL –
A 22-year-old man jailed Tuesday on allegations he hid a 14-year-old girl in his mobile home was hit with four more felony charges Friday afternoon.

Authorities said the suspect had sex with the victim several times last weekend while she illegally stayed with him.

Eric Allen Andrew Lanham, 22, of 13017 Oneida St., who was still being held at the Hernando County Jail, was charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious battery on a child older than 12 and younger than 16.

The victim herself told the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office she participated in sexual activities with Lanham once Oct. 15, twice Oct. 16 and once more Sunday, according to an arrest affidavit.

The girl also provided detailed information about Lanham’s appearance and the “sexual practices” the defendant himself confirmed during a post-Miranda interview, deputies said.

A 16-year-old female, who is friends with the victim, told detectives she witnessed two of the sex acts Saturday night, according to the affidavit.

Lanham was first arrested after a deputy arrived at his house and asked him whether he knew the whereabouts of the girl, who had been missing for a few days, authorities said.

The same deputy had contacted Lanham several times last weekend and each time the suspect said he hadn’t heard from her since before she went missing, according to the sheriff’s office.

Soon after the deputy arrived at Lanham’s house, he heard banging and thumping noises from inside, the report showed.

The deputy was given permission to search the inside of the home and discovered the girl hiding in an opening underneath the center of a bed located in the kitchen, authorities said.

Lanham’s bond amount Friday was set at $20,000.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or .