The Incident
ROCKLEDGE, Fla. — A teenage girl with autism fought back against an alleged intruder who forced his way into her home while her guardians were away, striking him with a hammer and sending him fleeing, according to a Rockledge Police Department arrest affidavit. The suspect, Brandon S. McCuen, 29, of Rockledge, was arrested on February 24, 2026.
Rockledge police received a 911 call at approximately 12:21 p.m. on February 24. The caller described the intruder as a white male with brown hair in a gray hoodie and reported striking him with a hammer.
When officers arrived, they found the juvenile victim standing on the front lawn holding the hammer. She told investigators the man — known to her only as “Scott” from the neighborhood — appeared inside her home without permission, ordered her to the floor, and got on top of her. She grabbed a nearby hammer and struck him once in the back of the head. The man fled through the garage. Blood consistent with the injury was found on a blanket, a pillow, the bedroom floor, and a paper towel in the garage.
Suspect Located and Arrested
Investigators traced McCuen to his Croton Road address, where he was found wearing a green sweater with apparent blood on it. In a recorded post-Miranda interview, McCuen acknowledged meeting the girl at a Rebel gas station, communicating with her via Snapchat and text, and entering the home on February 23, where he claimed consensual sexual encounters took place. He said on February 24 the girl struck him unexpectedly, and he then left.
Victim Background and Forensic Evidence
The affidavit notes the victim has autism and lived under strict household rules set by her guardians prohibiting visitors in their absence. During a forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Brevard, the girl said she felt intimidated by McCuen and did not know how to tell him no. A sexual assault kit was completed and DNA evidence was collected.
Charges Filed
McCuen faces three counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor (age 16 or 17) and one count of burglary of a dwelling. He was booked into the Brevard County Jail. The case remains under active investigation by the Rockledge Police Department.
As with all criminal cases, the charges filed against Brandon S. McCuen are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.