Charlotte County Sheriff's Major Crimes Unit detectives arrested Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission officer John Michael Hoover Wednesday on two counts of lewd battery on a 14-year-old girl.
Charlotte County deputies reportedly observed an FWC truck parked at an abandoned house in the Port Charlotte area July 27, 2012. Hoover emerged accompanied by the girl.
Hoover, in uniform, reportedly said he caught the girl in the house with another male who had fled upon his arrival. Hoover reportedly said he did not want help from CCSO deputies and would handle the investigation.
Article Photos
On Jan. 3, CCSO received information pertaining to the same 14-year-old girl from last July's incident. MCU detectives conducted a criminal investigation and developed probable cause Hoover had sex with the girl on two occasions.
An arrest warrant was issued and at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Hoover turned himself in. He was arrested and transported to the Charlotte County Jail where was booked and then released on $10,000 bond.
