Wake 18-year-old facing additional sex charge after two more girls come forward

Michael Campbell McGill, 18, was charged Tuesday with two counts each of first-degree kidnapping and second-degree forcible rape. He was being held Wednesday in the Wake County jail under more than $2 million bond.

McGill, a senior at Ahop Christian Leadership Academy in Chapel Hill, was initially charged with first-degree statutory rape and statutory sex offense with a child in connection with incidents alleged to have occurred in November with a 12-year-old girl.

Following his arrest, two more girls came forward to investigators to report similar incidents involving McGill. According to the latest arrest warrants, the alleged crimes occurred in September 2019 and last November.

Wake County Assistant District Attorney Melanie Shekita said investigators encouraged young girls who interacted with McGill to share their stories with authorities

"Often, people are afraid. They’re embarrassed because they might have done something they feel like they shouldn’t have done," Shekita said.

"We encourage them to come forward, and hopefully, they’ll be treated in a compassionate way in telling what they have to tell," she added. "Even if they don’t know if what happened to them was a crime, in this case or any case, we would want them to come forward to make sure that their voices are heard."

Investigators are still talking with possible victims in the case, and more charges are possible, Shekita said.

"It has branched over several jurisdictions. It is still an ongoing investigation," she said.

"In this system of justice, he’s presumed innocent. We ask that people withhold judgment until all the facts come out," defense attorney David Coolidge said.

Coolidge asked that McGill's bond be lowered, saying the family can't even afford the $1 million bond from his January arrest. But District Judge Debra Sasser denied the request.

"Obviously, he’s devastated. He’s very upset," Coolidge said. "He’s a very loving teenager. He has a wonderful family, and they love and care about him very much. He feels very remorseful to his family that they’ve gone through this."