Wilmington Man Identified in Woodland Heights Child Sexual Contact Case; Police Say More Victims Possible
Written by Kiss Media on 10 November 2026
New Castle County Police have named the man arrested in connection with a sexual contact case involving a young girl in Wilmington’s Woodland Heights neighborhood, and investigators say they believe there could be more victims.
Michael McCarthy, 36, of Wilmington, was arrested after an incident on Saturday, November 7. Officers were called to the 1000 block of Wagoner Drive around 6:20 p.m. on a report of a disorderly group. Investigators say the case began earlier that evening at a gathering at the girl’s home, where McCarthy, described as an acquaintance, struck up a conversation with the girl, who is under 12. Police say he made a sexually suggestive comment and then touched her inappropriately over her clothing. The girl told a family member immediately.
Police say McCarthy left the gathering and returned home once the allegations surfaced, and family members and others then went to his house — the gathering that brought officers to the scene.
Investigators also say McCarthy was allegedly violating a court order from an unrelated incident in July. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with one felony count of unlawful sexual contact in the second degree and one misdemeanor count of breach of release. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released on $2,100 unsecured bail.
Detectives are still reviewing the case. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim, or who has information about the investigation, is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Kevin Mackie of the Criminal Investigations Unit at (302) 395-8252 or Kevin.Mackie@newcastlede.gov.
Source: First State Update — https://firststateupdate.com/2026/11/county-police-now-release-image-of-man-charged-in-child-sexual-contact-case/
