(PORT CHARLOTTE) Charlotte County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit detectives arrested a homeless man for having sex with a 12 year old girl in his Port Charlotte camp. Michael Joseph Ferris, 22, was arrested for felony Lewd or Lascivious Battery.
At 4:17 p.m. Saturday a road deputy made contact with Ferris who was exiting a wooded area off S.R. 776, Cedarwood Street and Toledo Blade Boulevard. While completing a field interview, two juvenile girls’ ages 11 and 12 came out of the same area. The girls told the deputy they were with Ferris and sleeping in his homeless camp.
MCU detectives were called and took Ferris in for questioning. Detectives also made contact with the girl’s father for permission to interview both sisters. The 12 year old said she was very high on drugs but remembers that the sex was consensual. She said her sister left the camp before they had sex. Ferris was transported to the Charlotte County Jail where he remains on $100,000 bond. The investigation continues.