73-Year-Old Cantonment Man Held Without Bond on Child Abuse Charges

Roger Dale Sanspree, 73, stands accused of four felonies in a case that spans two counties and several years of alleged conduct. The Cantonment resident was booked into the Escambia County Jail this week, where he now remains without bond.

Charges against Sanspree include two counts of sexual battery by a person in a position of familial or custodial authority. One count involves a victim under the age of 12, while the other involves a victim between 12 and 18. He also faces two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, one for a victim under 12 and another for a victim between 12 and 16.

The investigation launched in September 2026 after authorities received a report of inappropriate conduct involving a female juvenile relative. According to the arrest report, the alleged abuse occurred primarily while the victim visited a residence in Cantonment over a multi-year period.

Detectives initially opened the case through the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. A forensic interview took place at the Santa Rosa Kids House, where the victim confirmed she was 14 years old at the time of questioning. Investigators later moved the case to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit after verifying the location of the incidents.

During the inquiry, detectives collected statements, recorded interviews, and written correspondence from Sanspree. The arrest report notes that the documents contained acknowledgments from Sanspree that he had engaged in unlawful physical contact with the youth.