[IMAGE CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 01/30/20]
(Have news tips for LLN?… 352Tips@gmail.com.)
CLERMONT, Florida — A man accused of exposing himself to a juvenile girl in October 2019 has been charged with exposure of sexual organs.
In October, a juvenile female old Clermont Police a man exposed himself and began to masturbate in front of her at Goodwill, 1885 Grand Highway, Clermont. The girl told police the man, later identified as Michael Benjamin Campbell, 30, of Clermont followed her around the store for a few minutes, finally approached her, lifted the leg of his shorts really high and exposed himself to her, according to an arrest affidavit.
Campbell was captured on video following the victim around the store, and repeatedly touching his genitals as he walked around the store, but the exposure incident was not caught on camera, as there are no cameras in that part of the store, the affidavit states. Campbell was also caught on camera leaving the store in a white Nissan Frontier with a large silver toolbox. About a week after the incident police showed the girl a photo lineup that did not contain Campbell’s photo and she told police the suspect was not in the lineup. She described the suspect as white male, very average, out of shape, dirty and “almost looked homeless,” according to the affidavit. She also told police he had a beard, possibly red.
Later, a Clermont Police officer spotted a white Nissan Frontier with a man driving who matched the victim’s description. Police identified Campbell as the registered owner and on December 5, 2019, presented another photo lineup to the victim, this time containing Campbell’s photo. The girl identified Campbell and he was picked up on the warrant Tuesday.
Campbell was charged with exposure of sexual organs and released from the Lake County Jail on $1,000 bond.
_______________________________________
Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
