Florida police arrest sexual battery suspect

A Macon man is in custody here after he was arrested in Florida on a Neshoba County warrant for alleged statutory rape of a minor under the age of 16 years old, the authorities said.

The man, Benjamin Michael Maxwell, 35, of 39341 Highway 14 east, Macon, was arrested and charged with sexual battery and statutory rape. Maxwell has been denied bond, according to Neshoba County Jail records.

Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark said the alleged incident occurred on March 20 in Neshoba County. Clark said deputies were called to Neshoba General that evening at 9:45 p.m. 

After forensic interviews, the investigator was able to obtain an arrest warrant for Maxwell on March 31. He was believed to be living in Texas at the time and working a truck driving job, Clark said.

Maxwell was pulled over by law enforcement in Bushnell, Fla., on June 1 and arrested on the outstanding warrant. Clark said he went to Florida on Saturday to pick up Maxwell and returned to Neshoba County with him on Sunday.