HomeCrimeMan charged with sexual battery during date arranged through Bumble

Man charged with sexual battery during date arranged through Bumble

February 8, 2025

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Brandon Lee Mulling, 31, was arrested yesterday for sexual battery after a woman reported that he raped her in his car in the O’Connell Center parking lot during a date they had arranged on Bumble.

The victim told a University of Florida Police Department officer that she had set up a date with Mulling on the Bumble app but had told him “just kissing, nothing else” on the app. She said he picked her up around 4 a.m. on February 3 in his vehicle and drove to the O’Connell Center parking lot (250 Gale Lemerand Drive), where they began kissing. She said she told him again in the vehicle that she only wanted to kiss, but he physically forced himself on her.

The arresting officer reported that traffic cameras placed Mulling’s vehicle around the UF campus at the time of the incident.

Mulling has been charged with sexual battery. His arrest report shows a Gainesville address, but he has no court records in Alachua County; he went to high school in Naples and has traffic citations in Collier County through February 2024. Judge Phillip Pena set bail at $500,000.

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. 

  • Guess that makes him a bumbling idiot.
    Here’s to his future boyfriend. 🍻

    • Doesn’t matter what time they “met.” Nothing gives an excuse or reason to rape someone. To those who think differently, you’re what’s wrong with society.

  • Do NOT want to victim blame. Seriously a “date” at 4 a.m.? Have always called that a booty call

    • You ARE victim blaming. There is no specific time of day or night that allows rape. Her expectations were made clear to her date. He violated her.

      • You are absolutely correct, nothing allows rape. However, as a female I would NEVER meet some guy I didn’t know at 4 a.m. in a parking lot.

        • Nor would I. However, she is being blamed for someone else’s criminal behavior.

  • This sound weird to me. I bet she regret this and now in love with the dude.

  • Usually I would defend the guy in this type of situation, but the $500,000 bond suggests to me that he is either known to frequently do this or he did something really messed up to this girl. More will be revealed I’m sure.

  • Has a history of similars accusations in Naples, FL. Tried to force himself on a girl I know. Went to nursing school with him as well, weirdo vibes..

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