December 3, 2018
On December 1, 2018 the Levy County Sheriff’s Office
Criminal Investigations Division responded to a home in Chiefland after a child
reported to her mother “Uncle Joel” touched her private parts. Investigator
Mike McNeil took testimony from the mother and the four year old child and
identified Uncle Joel as Joel Michael Crawford (11-10-89) of Chiefland.
Investigator McNeil accompanied the mother and child to the
Child Protection Team at the University of Florida in Gainesville where an
emergency forensic interview was conducted. The child was able to explain in
detail what Crawford did to her.
Investigator McNeil located Crawford at his home in
Chiefland, and he agreed to speak about the incident. Crawford volunteered to
drive to Bronson and speak to Investigator McNeil at the LCSO.
Investigator
McNeil wrote in his arrest affidavit Crawford admitted to sexually battering
the child and stated, “I have major problems.”
Crawford was arrested and booked into the Levy County
Detention Facility. He has been charged with one count of capital sexual
battery on a child under 12 and is being held on a $500,000.00 bond.