Staff report

Updated with information about McCray’s arrest.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Linda Ann Lee, 51, and James William McCray, 45, were arrested yesterday on charges related to the sexual abuse of a child.

A Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer reported an incident where McCray allegedly exposed his genitals twice to a child in July and instructed the child to remain silent. Witnesses stated that upon being informed of these incidents, Lee took no action. The witnesses confronted McCray in the residence’s parking lot, contacted the authorities, and ensured the child’s safety by taking them away.

During a forensic interview conducted by the Child Protection Team, the middle-school-aged child recounted that McCray had lowered his pants to expose both his buttocks and genitals, noting a specific detail about his genitals. The child explained that after informing Lee of the occurrence, Lee allegedly summoned McCray into a room before going to sleep, which left the child feeling unsafe, prompting them to text one of the witnesses.

A medical evaluation of the victim indicated failures in protection, as well as signs of dental and medical neglect, and mental harm. The interview confirmed McCray’s exploitation of the child and involvement with illegal substances.

Lee was interviewed at GPD Headquarters on August 20 and, following her Miranda rights, reportedly stated that the child informed her about McCray’s actions. She claimed to have confronted McCray, who denied the allegations, and thus she believed him. Having known McCray for a long time, Lee reportedly trusted he would not engage in such behavior. She acknowledged the specific detail about McCray’s genitals shared by the child but claimed disbelief in the child’s account, asserting there was nothing to report because she believed nothing transpired.

When an officer pointed out that the child accurately described the specific detail of McCray’s genitals, Lee remained silent briefly before suggesting that the child might have seen a photo of McCray’s genitals on her phone. Lee mentioned her failure to take the child to medical appointments over the past year due to misplacing the child’s medical card and lacking transportation. However, when asked about her car, Lee stated she had acquired it three or four months prior.

The officer also referenced an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office report from 2023, where Lee and the child were present during an incident involving a female exposing her genitals to children at Majestic Oaks. Lee initially didn’t recall this event, but when reminded by the officer that a deputy had reported her acknowledgment of the incident and subsequent decision not to press charges, Lee became hesitant and claimed she didn’t remember.

Lee has been charged with failing to report suspected child abuse and child neglect without great bodily harm. She has three misdemeanor convictions (one violent) and was arrested in 2019 for domestic battery, but the charge was later dropped. Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $25,000.

McCray has been charged with lewd/lascivious exhibition with a victim under the age of 16, false imprisonment, two counts of aggravated stalking, and resisting an officer without violence. He was just arrested this afternoon, so we do not yet have his arrest report.

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.