Press Release
The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announced that a Bay County Jury deliberated just over 30 minutes this afternoon(12/6/16) before returning a verdict of Guilty as Charged against 30 year old, Michael Justin Mcneil, for three counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery and two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation.
Assistant State Attorney Christa Diviney called eight witnesses to the stand to prove McNeil committed the crimes upon the victim when she was twelve and thirteen years old. The crimes began in October of 2014, just one month after McNeil had been released from serving a prison sentence. The case was investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office with the help of the Children’s Advocacy Center and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Circuit Judge James Fensom ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for December 22, 2016. Prosecutor Diviney has filed notice with the court that the State of Florida will request McNeil be sentenced as a Prison Releasee Reoffender. The defendant could be sentenced to a maximum of life in prison for committing these five crimes.
If you have any questions, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney, Larry Basford at (850) 819-6985.