A Palm Coast man who sexually assaulted a teenager and attempted to leave the state before being caught was arrested last week following a monthlong investigation by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Micah McGuire, 21, was taken into custody and charged with lewd or lascivious battery, promoting sexual performance by a child, and resisting an officer without violence. He is being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on a $61,000 bond.
The Investigation
In April, the FCSO Cyber Crimes Unit opened an investigation after a juvenile female victim reported that she had been sexually assaulted by a man she knew only as “Micah.” Through investigative work, detectives identified the suspect as McGuire. The investigation also determined that McGuire recorded a portion of the encounter on the victim’s cellphone.
On May 29, detectives attempted to locate McGuire and reached him by phone to arrange a meeting. During that call, McGuire told detectives he was planning to move to Denver on June 3 because he wanted to get “out of Florida.” After hanging up, McGuire began making multiple calls trying to leave the state ahead of schedule, including attempting to arrange a ride to Orlando to fly to Colorado immediately.
The Arrest
Detectives from the Cyber Crimes Unit and Digital Forensics Unit went to McGuire’s residence, where they informed him outside the front door that they had a search warrant and would be collecting his DNA and cellphone.
McGuire became uncooperative, stepped back inside, and tried to slam the door on the detectives. Officers secured him as he continued to resist.
“This dirtbag thought he could assault a child and then skip town to Colorado before we caught up to him. He thought wrong,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our Cyber Crimes and Digital Forensics Unit detectives did an outstanding job identifying and locating this dirtbag, gathering evidence, and getting him in handcuffs before he could buy a one-way ticket out of Florida. Instead, he got a free one-way ride to the Green Roof Inn.”
Prior History and Ongoing Investigation
McGuire has a prior criminal history in Flagler County that includes previous arrests for written or electronic threats to kill, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, obstruction without violence, and violation of probation.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Detectives are actively seeking potential additional victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FCSO non-emergency line at 386-313-4911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).
