Gainesville man arrested after allegedly raping woman on multiple occasions

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Michelel Dorcelus, 33, was arrested on November 15 and charged with two counts of sexual battery; additional charges of sexual battery and stalking in a second case were added yesterday.

The victim in the new case told an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy on November 16 that she had accepted a ride home from Dorcelus in late May or early June when she was stranded at a gas station. When they arrived at her residence, Dorcelus reportedly asked if he could come inside, and the victim agreed.

The victim said she and Dorcelus talked for a while, but then he began to talk about sexual topics; she said she was not interested in having a sexual relationship with him, but he allegedly became aggressive and threw her face down on her bed after a struggle. The victim said he forcibly overpowered her, undressed her, and raped her. She said he told her after the rape that nobody would believe her if she reported it because she was overweight.

The victim said Dorcelus has come to her residence unannounced six or seven times since the first incident and demanded that she let him inside. She said he made her afraid that she would be harmed if she did not let him in. In early November, she said, he coerced her into letting him in, and he reportedly said he wanted to teach her self-defense. She said she told him she didn’t want to do that, but he allegedly pinned her to the ground and digitally penetrated her. She said she kept telling him to stop, and he finally left.

The victim reportedly identified Dorcelus in a photo line-up and said she was still afraid he would harm her.

Dorcelus was arrested on November 15 on a sworn complaint filed on September 1 with two counts of sexual battery on an adult with no physical force; formal charges were filed on November 7, and a warrant for Dorcelus’ arrest was issued on November 14 by Judge David Kreider, with bail set at $250,000.

Bail on the new charges has been set at $1,100,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

  • There’s a fix to prevent these types of crimes.
    Dull knife.
    I can assure you, it’ll never happen again – to anyone.

  • This guy is well on the way to being a predator. If this guy was doing this to the same victim since the summer he must have a special evil in him to scare someone that bad. Unfortunately there may be more victims also. I hope not though.

  • Prosecutors do not get to choose their victims. Offenders take the path of least resistance & do choose whom to prey upon. That is why the vulnerable, young & at risk population is victimized. Never blame a victim.

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