Michael Travis Stephens, a 48-year-old resident of Sedgwick Trail in Palm Coast, is at the Flagler County jail on $125,000 bond after allegedly sexually assaulting his minor stepchild while she feigned sleep.
Before his arrest, Stephens, who was slurring his words, repeatedly told Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies that he would not allow anyone onto his property, that he had done nothing wrong, and that he was done talking to law enforcement. He slammed the door of his house in deputies’ faces.
On the phone later, he told a deputy: “This is the ‘Hurt Locker'” (a reference to the Iraq war movie that includes a scene about a bomb squad failing to defuse a suicide bomber’s belt) and “anyone coming in here isn’t leaving alive.” Stephens kept making statements about knowing when to hold one’s ground and law enforcement not going into his house “without getting hurt.” He was arrested, however, without harm to law enforcement.
Stephens, who remains at the county jail, faces a felony count of lewd or lascivious touching of a minor and a felony count of cruelty toward children.
The alleged victim told deputies that she was sleeping in the garage with the television on, when she woke up to Stephens whispering in her ears that he wanted to feel her private parts. “I won’t tell anyone, I promise,” he told her. “I’ll give you anything.” He then assaulted her as she pretended to be asleep, slipping his hand beneath her clothes, but she got up when he pulled down her pants. By then her mother had called 911. Deputies saw the girl and her mother run out of the garage screaming when they arrived.
The girl’s mother had been sleeping in the garage as well and corroborated the account to law enforcement. Stephens and the girl’s mother have an infant child in common. A judge imposed a non-contact order on Stephens regarding both the alleged victim and her mother, should he be eligible for pre-trial release.
The Sour Kraut says
Why were they sleeping in the garage? Just curious.
There is a special place in He’ll for people like Mr. Stephen’s. I hope he doesn’t like the heat.
Eric says
https://flaglerlive.com/lance-mussack/
Add another sick demented scumbag to the list of sex offenders. These losers should have their faces plastered on billboards all up and down 100 and US1.
Vince says
Weirdo! Lock him up and throw away the keys!!
Greg says
I was told when I moved here, how nice and peaceful Palm Coast was! I’m finding out this isn’t much better than New Jersey I moved from. I may be hitting the trail northbound!
JimboXYZ says
Oh FCOL, not another one of these vile stories unfolding before our very own eyes.
Erod says
But I think the best spots in the “special place” are reserved for the people on the Epstein Island guest list.
Chip D says
Don’t let the door hit you! You need to get in touch with the “Dude” and see where he’s living. The fact is there are scumbags and weirdos everywhere. Palm Coast has it’s share but don’t kid yourself into believing that your better off somewhere else.
Alex says
Another Flagler County Pervert. Lock him up for a long time, that is what he deserves,
cwhjr says
Why does Flagler County seem such a haven of whites trash shite?
Maybe because it is.
Happy to move out of this shithole.
Robert Joseph Fortier says
Palm Coast was marketed to NY, CT, and NJ. when it started to build homes here. Most of those living in Palm Coast are from one of those three states.
I though most people here knew that.
James says
Whoa!
For a brief moment there I thought this guy was another Palm Coast mayoral candidate.
Perhaps consider bumping the story to the bottom of the page?
Just a suggestion.
Jenn says
Are you able to provide me with the County this happened and phone number to follow up with? I’m trying to get a hold of the sheriff who took him into custody.