By Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have taken 62-year-old Michael Norbett Taylor into custody following allegations of sexual assault involving a girl younger than 12 years old.
The arrest came after the young victim, during an unrelated inquiry, revealed to law enforcement and the Department of Children and Families that Taylor had inappropriately touched her on multiple occasions before she turned 12. She reportedly confided in another girl about these incidents at the time they occurred.
In a detailed forensic interview, the victim recounted three separate incidents. In the first instance, Taylor is accused of touching her inappropriately over her clothing. The second incident reportedly involved an attempted rape, which he did not succeed in carrying out. In the third instance, Taylor allegedly sexually assaulted her while she was asleep.
It was also reported that Taylor offered the victim $20 to keep her silent about the incidents.
The witness reportedly said that the victim had told her about the second incident, but she didn’t believe her at the time; however, she said she saw Taylor near the victim around the time of the third incident and said the victim told her later that someone had touched her while she was sleeping.
Post Miranda, Taylor reportedly said he knew the victim was under 12 at the time of the alleged incidents and said he gave her money, but he did this with other children, too. He denied touching her inappropriately and said she was lying because she didn’t get what she wanted, but he was reportedly unable to say what she wanted or why she would lie.
Taylor has been charged with sexual battery of a victim under 12 and lewd or lascivious molestation. He has one state felony conviction (non-violent) and one state misdemeanor conviction (non-violent), along with 15 criminal traffic convictions. In 1999, he pled to a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and was sentenced to 78 months in prison, followed by 48 months of probation. His bail, if any, will be set tomorrow.
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