Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Cameron Jamal McKenzie, 23, of Starke, was arrested on April 8 and charged with attempted sexual battery and indecent exposure after allegedly walking up behind a woman with his genitals exposed in a restaurant bathroom, grabbing her, and licking her.

On August 7, 2023, the victim told a Gainesville Police Department Officer that she was washing her hands in the women’s bathroom of Veccino’s Neighborhood Restaurant and Bar (208 W. University Avenue) when McKenzie approached her with his pants down and genitals exposed. She said he grabbed her in the hip area and licked her. She said she turned to punch him, and he ran away. The victim was reportedly scratched on her hip during the incident.

McKenzie reportedly returned to the women’s bathroom about 10 minutes later, and two witnesses chased him out of the restaurant. One of the witnesses reportedly punched McKenzie’s car window before he drove away; the witness reportedly had a bloody hand.

McKenzie was originally charged with battery and indecent exposure, both misdemeanors, but the battery charge was later amended to attempted sexual battery.

McKenzie has an extensive criminal history, including at least four juvenile convictions in 2012 and 2013. He violated probation in four juvenile cases, including several incidents in which he left home and his mother reported that she didn’t know where he was. He also has convictions in at least three adult felony cases in Union and Bradford Counties and served a 15-month prison sentence for grand theft of a vehicle and burglary out of Union County; he was released in October 2022.

McKenzie has a pending misdemeanor case in Bradford County and a pending felony case in Union County, both filed in 2023.

McKenzie is being held without bail, and prosecutors have filed a motion, based on the charge and his record of violating probation, to hold him without bail until trial.

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.