A 49-year-old man was arrested by Belleview police after two children claimed that he dropped his pants and masturbated in front of them while they were driving a golf cart through the woods behind a local residence.
On Saturday, February 8, at around 6:30 p.m., a Belleview Police Department officer responded to the incident location. The arrest report stated that kids were playing in the woods behind a local residence when a man exposed himself to them.
When the deputy arrived at the home, the father of one of the children stated that his son had two friends over for a party. The children were riding on a golf cart in the wooded area behind the residence when they allegedly encountered a bald man.
Two of the children on the golf cart claimed that the man pulled down his pants and began masturbating. The report stated that the third child did not witness the alleged incident involving the man.
The father told the officer that upon hearing about the incident, he walked into the woods and observed a bald man who was wearing headphones and a lime green shirt. The man was later identified as Belleview resident Mell Lee Breckon, and he allegedly began walking toward the father while saying, “I didn’t do anything.”
Breckon then walked away from the father, heading southbound on an adjacent road, and the father returned to the residence to speak with law enforcement.
According to statements from the children, Breckon was “acting crazy” in the wooded area moments before he allegedly began masturbating. One of the children further stated that Breckon was using his phone as a flashlight during the incident, and it appeared that he was “taking photos of his penis in front of them.”
The man was quickly identified as Breckon, and the officer located him at his residence. He was wearing a lime green shirt and headphones were hanging from his pockets, which matched the description provided by the children, according to the report.
After being detained and read his Miranda rights, Breckon admitted to being in the woods, though he claimed that he “did not do anything wrong.” The report stated that Breckon further denied encountering any children while in the woods, adding that he “would never do anything to children.”
The officer noted in the report that Breckon’s cellphone was searched, and none of the photos found on the device appeared to have been taken in the woods.
Breckon was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond. He is being charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition.
On Tuesday, March 11, Breckon is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to Marion County Court records.