Michael Douglas McNeil, Enticing Child for Sex, Florida 2018

Navy Lieutenant Pleads Guilty to Online Child Enticement

Jacksonville, Florida - In a disturbing case of online child enticement, Navy Lieutenant Michael Douglas McNeil has pleaded guilty to using the internet to attempt to entice a child to engage in sexual activity.

According to the United States Attorney's Office, on August 27, 2018, a detective with the Clay County Sheriff's Office, who was posing online as a family member of a 12-year-old handicapped child, received a message on a social media application from McNeil, who identified himself as 'Mark.' McNeil expressed interest in having sex with the 'child' and was advised that the 'child' was 12 years old.

Between August 27 and August 30, 2018, McNeil and the undercover detective discussed plans for McNeil to meet the 'child' for sex. McNeil asked for several photos of the 'child,' sent the undercover detective an explicit photo of himself, and asked specific questions about the 'child's' sexual experience and abilities.

On August 30, 2018, McNeil drove to a coffee shop in Orange Park to meet the 'child' for sex and was arrested. During an interview, McNeil admitted that he had engaged in online and text conversation with the 'guardian' of the 12-year-old 'child,' that he had sent them a photo of his own genitalia, and that he showed up to meet the 'child' because of his 'curiosity' about 'a younger girl.'

McNeil, a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. He has been detained since his arrest on August 30, 2018. This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. As part of this initiative, McNeil's case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

The U.S. Attorney's Office emphasizes that it will continue to aggressively pursue those who would seek to harm children through online enticement and exploitation.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/mayport-navy-lieutenant-pleads-guilty-using-internet-entice-and-meet-child-engage