- April 24, 2024
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James Matthew McDevitt, who is accused of raping a woman in Flagler beach in June, has pled not guilty to charges against him.
McDevitt was appointed public defender this week, who will represent him as his case moves through the court system.
Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies say McDevitt, 21, choked and raped a 38-year-old woman as she walked home from the beach at about 3 a.m. June 14.
A man who lived nearby reported the incident to deputies after he watched the two walking north on the corner of Central Avenue and South 12 Street, according to a charging affidavit. He heard a woman scream but could not understand what she was saying, and then watched McDevitt put his hand over her mouth.
The man went into his home to get his cell phone to call 911, and when he returned outside, he said he saw McDevitt dragging the woman into an empty lot.
Deputies found the woman on the ground with dirt in her mouth and embedded in her nostrils. Her belongings were strewn around the lot. McDevitt, who was detained on scene, was found with several scrapes on his body, scratch marks on his neck and what appeared to be a bite mark on his right cheekbone.
McDevitt was arrested and charged with battery and sexual battery causing great bodily harm. His first pretrial hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 27.
