A suspect has been arrested on a charge of molesting an 8-year-old girl who recently lost her mother.
On June 16, deputies responded to a report of sexual abuse at an undisclosed Wildwood residence, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. The initial investigation revealed 62-year-old Michael Wayne Jernigan of Leesburg was caught with his thumb in an 8-year-old victim’s mouth.
When the complainant asked the juvenile victim about what happened, she stated Jernigan had been doing this since her mother’s passing over a year ago. He had put his hands down her pants and rubbed her “privates.” He also rubbed her “behind” over her clothes while having her suck on his thumb, the report said.
The complainant confronted Jernigan about this, and he initially accused the juvenile victim of lying. However, when the child began to cry and the complainant stated she does not generally lie, he lowered his head, the report said.
Jernigan was not at the scene at the time of reporting, and the deputies were unable to make contact. He was ultimately arrested Wednesday evening at a residence in Center Hill. He was charged with lewd or lascivious behavior (molest victim less than 12 years of age) and transported to the Sumter County Detention Center to be held without bond.