Volusia babysitter sentenced to 25 years for molesting girls

A Port Orange man who authorities say used his position as a babysitter to prey on families will spend the next 25 years in prison after being convicted of molesting several children, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

Michael J. McCabe, 47, previously pleaded no contest to four counts of sexual battery against a child ages 12-18; two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation against a child ages 12-16; and three counts of attempted lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12, said Bryan Shorstein, a spokesman for the State Attorney’s Office.

On Thursday morning, Circuit Judge Terence Perkins sentenced McCabe to 25 years in prison, followed by 25 years of sex-offender probation.

He used his “trusted position as a babysitter to molest and sexually assault five girls under the age of 18,” Shorstein said.

Known as “Uncle Mikey,” McCabe befriended several families, moved into their homes and molested their daughters, authorities said. The molestations occurred in Ormond Beach, Holly Hill and Port Orange.

McCabe has been held in the Volusia County Jail since his arrest in March.