Robert “Chandler” McRee, was arrested on April 27 and charged
with lewd and lascivious battery after allegedly engaging in sexual activity
with a thirteen-year-old boy.
McRee is a Brevard Community College associate professor who taught communications
at the Melbourne campus. After his arrest, he was placed on unpaid leave
from the college.
According to Florida Today, the two had corresponded online for one week
before meeting on April 27. The police report states that McRee and the
boy engaged in sexual activity in the defendant’s car.
After the sexual encounter with McRee, the boy was pulled over for a traffic
violation by a Melbourne police officer. The teen, according to Melbourne
Police Sgt. Sheridan Shelley, did not have a driver’s license. While
talking to officers, the boy told them about his sexual encounter with
the suspect. Police were able to locate McRee using GPS to track the victim’s
phone which he had unintentionally left in the suspect’s vehicle.
Sgt. Shelley said, “It’s a serious felony crime this guy (McRee)
has been arrested for. It’s a very unfortunate situation for the
victim’s family.”
When arrested, McRee told Melbourne police he though the boy was eighteen-years-old,
not thirteen. McRee posted bond and was released from Brevard County Jail.
Actions from the College Faculty
The Associate Vice-President of Communications at Brevard Community College,
John Glisch, said that when the college learned of McRee’s arrest
from Melbourne police, they “immediately suspended and placed him
on an unpaid leave of absence.”
When convicted of a sex crime in the state of Florida, you face either
an extended jail term or a lifelong prison sentence as Florida has some
of the harshest punishments in the nation for crimes of this nature. It
is very important to immediately contact an experienced Florida criminal
defense attorney when arrested for any type of sex crime.