A Sun man was arrested for “grabbing at” a 7-year-old boy while swimming naked at a pool he was helping construct, Sheriff’s Office spokesman George Bonnett said.

Ryan Mizell, 28, 296477 Stein Road, was arrested and charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile and sexual battery on Jan. 29 after the mother of the child recently discovered the incident and contacted authorities.

The arrest was not made public until The St. Tammany News recently inquired about the incident, but it appears Mizell’s arrest is one more chapter in a history of the man’s bizarre sexual behavior. Mizell, an acquaintance of the homeowners, was helping construct the pool at the Sun area home when one day he stripped his clothes and began to swim “in the presence” of the boy, Bonnett said. Later Mizell grabbed at the boy, Bonnett said. It was unclear if the parents were home at the time to the incident that occurred “sometime” after Memorial Day 2008, Bonnett said.

When the mother unearthed allegations, she called authorities, who typically launch an “intensive” investigation, including child interviews by trained child abuse investigators.

Anyone convicted of sexual battery against a victim under 13 faces 25 years to life in prison at hard labor with 25 years without the benefit of parole or suspension of sentence. Upon release, offenders face a lifetime of supervised probation. This is not the first time Mizell has been investigated near Sun.

On July 17, 2008, a Sun woman reported to Sun Police Chief Greg Bush that Mizell exposed himself to her 5-year-old daughter, according to a police report.

Upon investigation, Mizell said a cat had scratched him and he was inspecting a possible wound, according to the report. Mizell was arrested and charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile. Bush said the arrest has led other potential victims to come forward.

“It’s an open case we’re still working,” he said.