Flagler County man arrested for the sexual abuse of two 15-year-old girls
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - The Flager County Sheriff's Office says that a man was arrested for the sexual battery of two minors.
The Flagler County Sheriff's Special Investigations Unit say that they began investigating claims of a sex offense after a 15-year-old girl reported being sexually molested while at a sleepover in June of 2016.
The investigation reportedly revealed that two 15-year-olds had been sexually molested or battered by the same defendant. One reported being a victim of the defendant for almost seven years.
The sheriff's office says that one of their detectives worked on the cases of the two minors for over a year. The detective conducted multiple interviews and sent a DNA analysis of the defendant and evidence collected at the scene to the FDLE lab. The DNA results came back over one year later matching the evidence to the defendant.
The detective says that the defendant was charged with the sexual offenses and Flagler County Judge Melissa Moore-Stens signed two warrants for his arrest with nationwide pick up.
The sheriff's office says that the defendant, identified as 46-year-old Michael Craig Bowling, was arrested on the Flagler County warrants in Kentucky on December 8th and is being held at the Campbell County Detention with no bond. He will be extradited to the Flagler County Detention Facility this week.
Deputies say that Bowling faces charges of three counts of sexual battery, three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct, lewd and lascivious battery on a child, lewd and lascivious exhibition in the presence of a child, and battery on a child.
"This type of behavior is sickening but I'm proud of the victims for coming forward and telling the truth before he could hurt others," Sheriff Rick Staly said. "Our detectives did a great job on this case to ensure this child predator was taken into custody. I hope he goes to prison for the rest of his life."