A man arrested and charged with setting fire to a 17-year-old male during a sexual encounter in Woodstock, Ga., has a long criminal history of sexually abusing juveniles, according to a spokesperson for the Woodstock Police Department.

Joseph Raymond Zeock, 61, was arrested in Gwinnett County in the early morning hours of July 19 after a tip came from the Woodstock Police Department. He was detained in the Gwinnett County Jail for several hours before being transferred later to the Cherokee Adult Detention Center, said Woodstock police spokesperson Brittany Duncan.

Zeock is accused of tying up a 17-year-old male, gagging him and then setting him on fire, according to police reports. The incident occurred during the overnight hours of Sunday, July 10, and Monday, July 11, at the Suburban Lodge in Woodstock.

Woodstock police responded to a call from Grady Hospital on July 12 at 9 p.m. in reference to a person injured.

“Upon arrival, investigators met with a 17-year-old male who stated that Joseph Raymond Zeock, also known as J.R., had set him on fire,” according to a report from Woodstock police.

The victim told Woodstock police that Zeock promised him money in exchange for “certain acts” and during one of the acts Zeock tied up the teen, gagged him and then set him on fire, according to Woodstock police.

Zeock is charged with aggravated battery, first degree cruelty to children, false imprisonment and solicitation of sodomy.

The male victim suffered second and third-degree burns on his backside and is still being treated at Grady, Duncan said July 19.

According to Duncan, Zeock has a long history of being charged and arrested for abusing juveniles. She did not know if his prior victims were male or female:

• In Pennsylvania between 1972-1986, Zeock was charged with solicitation of sodomy, corrupting the morals of a minor and criminal solicitation of prostitution.

• In New York in 1985 he was arrested for promoting prostitution/profit from prostitution of a juvenile younger than 16 years old.

• In Delaware in 1997, Zeock was arrested for sexual extortion; in 1989 he was charged with sexual harassment and unlawful sexual contact, criminal solicitation, unlawful sexual penetration and unlawful sexual intercourse; and in 1988 he was charged with unlawful sexual contact and criminal solicitation.

Duncan said Zeock also has numerous financial arrests as well.

Top photo: Joseph Raymond Zeock (via Gwinnett County Jail)