Gulfport Man Arrested On Child Sex Charges

Gulfport Police Detectives arrested James Vice Thursday evening at his Gulfport home following an investigation into allegations that he engaged in sexual activity with an eight-year-old girl in 2003.

The now-sixteen-year-old disclosed the information to a school counselor, who in turn reported the incident to the school resource officer.

Investigators arranged and recorded several telephone calls during which Vice made incriminating statements to substantiate the victim’s allegations.

Vice is charged with one count of capital sexual battery on a child under the age of twelve, but additional charges may be forthcoming, as this conduct is alleged to have occurred as many as sixty times over the course of a year.

To protect the victim’s identity, her name and relationship to the suspect are not being released.

Vice is employed as a parks maintenance worker with the City of Gulfport, and the city manager’s office will provide further information on his employment status later today.

Police have received no information to indicate there are any other victims.