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Mom arrested after sexually oriented party
By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer HERNANDO -- A 27-year-old Hernando mother is facing criminal charges after authorities said she hosted a sexually oriented birthday party for her daughter and six other young girls from a local dance school. Melissa Balkcom was arrested Friday evening on two charges of lewd and lascivious exhibition after she was accused of performing nude jumping jacks in front of the girls and daring a 13-year-old to demonstrate oral sex on a soda bottle, said Citrus County Sheriff's Detective Portia Guinn. Lewd and lascivious exhibition is a second-degree felony that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Guinn was scheduled to meet Balkcom at the Citrus County jail Friday, where Balkcom was expected to be released without bail. According to a Department of Children and Families report, the incident was reported to authorities April 30. The report said seven girls ages 9 to 13 who knew one another from the Debbie Cole School of Dance in Homosassa Springs attended the birthday party at Balkcom's Hernando residence. The names of the girls were not released by authorities due to their ages and the nature of the crimes. Balkcom could not be reached for comment Friday evening. Guinn said Balkcom dared a 13-year-old to do 10 nude jumping jacks, then did 10 nude jumping jacks herself. Two girls were told to "French kiss" objects, including a television set, Guinn said. Another was told to do a "lap dance" on a chair, and one girl was dared to perform a "lap wiggle" on another girl, according to the Department of Children and Families report. Balkcom also dared a 13-year-old to use a bottle to demonstrate how oral sex is performed, Guinn said. When some of the younger girls appeared to be confused, Balkcom explained the meaning of oral sex to them, Guinn said. "Most of the girls at the party didn't even know what a lot of these things were," Guinn added. Several of them described the party to their mothers, who contacted the Sheriff's Office. Guinn said she has interviewed the seven girls who attended the party, as well as Balkcom. Guinn said Balkcom admitted to initiating the questionable party game. "She advised that she knew she had made a big mistake," Guinn said. "She's been very cooperative. She just made some poor decisions." While the girls knew each other from dance classes, the Debbie Cole School of Dance was not connected to the party, Guinn said. Hal Cole, co-owner of the school, said he did not want to comment on the arrest. -- Crime reporter Carrie Johnson can be reached at 860-7309 or cjohnson@sptimes.com.
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