74 year-old Bronson man pleads guilty to sexual battery, sentenced to 8 years
LCSO mugshot of Basil May.
On September 29, 2021, Basil Ellis May, now 74, of Bronson, Florida, was arrested by Detective Rob Bowers with the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, after a lengthy investigation. May was charged with sexual battery and has been held in custody at the Levy County Detention Bureau since his arrest.
"On March 15, 2023, May entered a guilty plea during a hearing and was sentenced to 96 months (8 years) in the Florida Department of Corrections. The plea alleviates a potentially long and complicated trial and relieves the victims of the burden of testifying in open court," said LCSO Lt. Scott Tummond. "The fully comprehensive investigation conducted by Detective Bowers, the tireless work by the 8th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and Victim Services left May with little option other than to plead his guilt."
"I wish to extend our continued thoughts and prayers to these victims," said Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum. "May is deemed a sexual offender, and he will be required to register as such for the remainder of his life, once released from prison."