PANAMA CITY — A local man arrested on charges of sexual battery of two teenagers now faces additional charges for allegedly attempting to break out of the interrogation room, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday.
Michael Justin McNeil, 29, was arrested after BCSO learned of an improper relationship he allegedly had with a middle school student, BCSO wrote in a news release.
A school resource deputy (SRD) at the middle school was informed Wednesday that a female student was seen kissing a man in a vehicle in the parking lot of the school. The SRD approached the car and saw McNeil in the car with the student. According to BCSO, the SRD spoke with the student, who stated she and McNeil had been having a sexual relationship since the fall of last year. The student said McNeil was aware of her age, BCSO reported.
McNeil, of Panama City, was charged with sexual battery on a victim 12 or older, and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation. The SRD also learned McNeil’s driver’s license had been revoked in 2012, so he was charged with felony driving with license suspended or revoked, officers said.
McNeil was brought to the BCSO for an interview, and as the investigator completed paperwork related to McNeil’s charges, he observed McNeil on video looking around the interview room and climbing on to a table. McNeil then attempted to place objects over the lenses of the camera and conceal himself, according to BCSO. The investigator went to look through an eye-hole in the door and watched McNeil try to pull himself up through the ceiling before McNeil was secured once again and charged with escape, BCSO reported.
Investigators with the Criminal Investigations Division learned Friday of another juvenile McNeil allegedly was involved with, officers said. He was charged with an additional count of sexual battery on a victim over the age of 12.