Tampa mortgage broker charged with sexual battery

TAMPA - A 43-year-old Tampa mortgage broker was arrested at work Thursday and charged with sexual battery on a victim younger than 12, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Thomas Randall Cochran (pictured), who lives in the 11200 block of Bramblebrush St., was picked up on a warrant around 3 p.m. and charged with felony sexual battery.

Debbie Carter, spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office, says authorities believe Cochran sexually assaulted a 4-year-old girl he was babysitting in April. The girl told her parents, who went to police, but detectives were unable to interview Cochran until July because he retained legal council, Carter said. Detectives finally questioned him that month and obtained DNA, which led to the warrant and arrest.

Cochran was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail, where he remains without bail. His arrest affidavit states he works at Taylor Bean & Whitaker, 3915 Premier N Drive. A woman contacted at the mortgage company, who would not reveal her name, would not confirm whether Cochran works there.

According to records from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Cochran was charged in 1983 with felony cruelty toward a child, misrepresenting his age and child abuse. In 1990, he was charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, the records state.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer. Times researcher Shirl Kennedy contributed to this report.

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