Man accused of sexual assault on 15-year-old runaway

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Marcus Dante’ McCray, 25, was arrested today and charged with lewd and lascivious behavior on a child between the ages of 12 and 16.

According to the arrest report, the incident was reported by a 15-year-old girl who had run away from home and had been reported missing when she allegedly encountered McCray on April 5. She told Gainesville Police Department detectives that McCray picked her up in a wooded area near 1800 NE 12th Avenue. She said they rode around in a silver car for several days, listening to music, talking to people at motels, using drugs, and sleeping in the car. The girl described other people they met during that time, including family members of McCray. She also described a distinctive tattoo McCray has over his eyebrow.

The girl reportedly told GPD that at one point, they were in a room at a motel and had consensual sex. She also described various people she met at the motel who knew McCray. She told GPD that while they were at the motel, McCray got into a vehicle with two older men and told her he would come back later, but he never came back. When he did not return, she walked to a different motel, where she was located on April 7 by law enforcement.

McCray was arrested today by Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a warrant for violation of probation, and he was brought to GPD for questioning. McCray reportedly denied knowing the victim at first but later said he had seen her on the street and then changed his story again to say he had seen her in the woods where she said he had picked her up. McCray reportedly denied driving any type of vehicle at any point but admitted to being at the motel at about the time of the incident. He reportedly admitted to knowing the people the girl had met at the motel. He later said he had rented a silver Impala with another person that he had slept in for a few days around the time of the incident but denied that the victim was ever in the car with him. He said he had been picked up at the motel by his father and his father’s co-workers. He also reportedly confirmed details about his family members that the victim would not have known if they had only spoken once, as McCray claimed.

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.