Sex Crimes

Published on: April 11, 2014

Miami Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer :: Miami PD Investigating 49ers’ Kaepernick, 2 Other NFLers for Alleged Sexual Assault

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is currently being investigated for a possible sexual assault that occurred earlier this month in Miami, according to a report.

Reports indicate that the investigation is in its beginning stages. No charges have been filed yet.

The Special Victims Unit is apparently looking into the allegations.

According to Miami police, they are investigating a “suspicious incident” that also involves 49ers receiver Quinton Patton and Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette.

The report alleges that the three players and an unnamed woman were drinking and smoking marijuana from a bong at Lockette’s apartment at the Viceroy Hotel on April 1 when the woman, who claims she had a prior sexual relationship with Kaepernick, felt light-headed and went to lie down in a bedroom.

The woman apparently told police that Kaepernick joined her in the bedroom and undressed her, but the two did not have sexual relations. Patton and Lockette allegedly “peeked” into the bedroom and she told them to leave.

The report states that the woman woke up in the hospital the next morning with no further memories from the night before and was unaware of how she ended up in the hospital.

If you or someone you care about is under investigation or has been arrested or charged with sexual assault in Miami-Dade County, a fundamental piece of an effective defense strategy is to hire an experienced criminal lawyer to represent you. A Miami-Dade County Sex Crimes Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton can investigate every shred of evidence against you and develop a powerful and aggressive line of defense in order to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.

People charged with sexual assault or other types of sex crimes face harsh judgments from the public and the media and must face hostile prosecutors. Unfortunately, most people are quick to jump to conclusions in these cases and are all too willing to believe the worst about those accused of sexually motivated crimes. At Whittel & Melton, we know firsthand that not all people accused of sex offenses are actually guilty of the charges stacked against them. We believe that those accused of sexual offenses deserve a fair trial and the best possible representation.

Published on: April 4, 2014

Hillsborough County Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer :: Brandon Pastor Arrested for Molesting Three Females in Congregation

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The pastor of a Brandon evangelical Spanish-speaking church was arrested this morning after being accused of molesting three females in the congregation.

Detectives claim the abuse went on for a couple of years.

The 44-year-old is charged with three felony counts of lewd and lascivious molestation. The ages of the alleged victims are 12, 17 and 43.

Deputies claim the 17-year-old said the man touched her inappropriately on approximately 15 different occasions beginning in 2011.

The victim alleges that the man told her he was doing this because he loved her as a pastor and she was not to tell anyone because he could get in trouble.

The 43-year-old claims the man touched her inappropriately in April of 2013. She told deputies that he told her it was a way to cure a medical condition, according to reports.

Reports indicate that the 12-year-old was touched inappropriately by the man two times a week for the past year.

Detectives began investigating the allegations after the three alleged victims learned that the man was behaving inappropriately with all of them.

The pastor has denied all the allegations to investigators.

He is currently being held in the Hillsborough County Jail and is expected to be at a bond hearing Saturday morning.

Sadly, there are circumstances when an adult is wrongfully accused of lewd and lascivious molestation. Law enforcement agents are quick to take the word of children who may have made false allegations in order to gain something from hurting the accused. If you or someone you know has been charged with lewd and lascivious molestation in the Tampa Bay area, a Hillsborough County Sex Crimes Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton can help you through this difficult and confusing time. As soon as you contact us we can immediately assess the situation and recommend the best legal strategy for your defense.

Published on: April 3, 2014

Flagler County Criminal Defense Attorney :: Bunnell Officer Accused of Soliciting Teens for Sex via Facebook

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Bunnell police officer was arrested last week after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement accused him of soliciting teenage boys online.

The 30-year-old Palm Coast man was arrested Mar. 25 on two counts of computer pornography and child exploitation, and one count of criminal use of personal identification information.

The FDLE said they began investigating the man in December 2013 after receiving complaints regarding his behavior. Investigators claim the man created a fraudulent Facebook account posing as a teenage girl and used the account to solicit teenage boys. FDLE alleges the conversations turned sexual when the man requested sexual photos from the teens.

Reports indicate the man was arrested at Bunnell City Hall by deputies from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. He was booked into the Flagler County Jail with bail set at $125,000.

He posted bond later that night and was released.

Bunnell police said the man has been suspended without pay.

Sex offenses involving juveniles are punished harshly in Flagler County and throughout the state of Florida. In fact, Florida has some of the harshest sentences for sex offenders in the nation, and penalties often include any number of years up to life in prison, considerable fines and other strict consequences. For most, being forced to register as a sexual offender is the most detrimental penalty of all. Registered sex offenders face many struggles as this can not only ruin careers and reputations, but restrict where they can work and even live.

Published on: March 31, 2014

St. Lucie County Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer :: Fort Pierce High School Teacher Charged with Six Counts of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A St. Lucie County high school teacher has been arrested and charged with six counts of lewd and lascivious conduct involving six teen victims.

St. Lucie County Sheriff’s deputies investigated the 68-year-old for several weeks and arrested the man on March 18. He was booked into the Indian River County jail with bail set at $600,000.

The alleged illegal activity took place during the current school year and apparently involved victims ranging in age from 14 to 15, according to investigators.

According to the arrest report, the man’s conduct “went well beyond a causal or friendly contact and was for a lewd and lascivious purpose.”

Police also claim that the man said to at least one victim that he “can’t wait until you’re 18. Actually, we’re doing it sooner.”

Investigators alleged they located a mirror “affixed to the underside of the suspect’s desk,” according to the arrest report.

If you are a teacher that has been accused of a sex crime involving a student or students, it is important to act quickly and retain a sex crimes defense lawyer as soon as possible. While the media and the general public tend to side with the alleged victims in sex crimes cases, what happens in the court room is an entirely different story. A St. Lucie County Sex Crimes Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton can help you fight back against false sex crimes charges so that you can get back to your life and your career as soon as possible.

Published on: March 26, 2014

Broward County Sex Crimes Defense Attorney :: Fort Lauderdale Coach Accused of Procuring a Minor for Prostitution

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A former Broward Christian School coach was arrested last month on charges of procuring a minor for prostitution after police claim he organized a meet up between two detectives posing as teenagers and another undercover detective posing as a client.

The 63-year-old West Park man was arrested on Feb. 5. According to Fort Lauderdale police, at the time of his arrest, detectives found more than 300 index cards in his possession with females’ first name, descriptions, telephone number and their hobbies.

Detectives are not sure how the man knew these women. Police are looking into whether he met some of them when he worked as a teacher and coach at Plantation’s Broward Christian School. He has not been employed at the school since 2001.

Police are going through the index cards and contacting everyone at the phone numbers listed.

Fort Lauderdale Police’s Human Trafficking Unit began investigating the man in January, after receiving a tip that the man was recruiting young and old females for sex trafficking.

In January, an undercover female detective posing as a 16-year-old apparently received multiple phone calls and text messages from the man. Police claim the conversations were sexually explicit.

Reports indicate that another undercover detective posing as a potential client called the man requesting to have sex with a 15- and 16-year-old. The man allegedly showed pictures to the undercover detective and told him he would arrange a meeting that would cost $200.

The man allegedly arranged for the group to meet at a Fort Lauderdale Dunkin Donuts on Feb. 5. According to the report, the man told the detective “to have fun and go handle your business.”

In addition to the charges of procuring a minor for prostitution, he was also charged with unlawful use of a telephone to set up the meeting.

The state of Florida has many regulations when it comes to prostitution, but those that carry the harshest penalties involve children and prostitution. If you or someone you care for has been arrested for or charged with procuring a minor for prostitution or similar charges, you must seek the help of a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Not only do these charges carry strict consequences if convicted, but the harsh social stigmas one can face from a guilty verdict can be overwhelming.

Published on: March 24, 2014

Seminole County Sex Crimes Defense Attorney :: “Operation SafeNet” Ends in 26 Arrests of Alleged Internet Child Sex Predators

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office announced today that they arrested 26 men in an undercover Internet child sex predator sting dubbed “Operation SafeNet.”

All of the men detained are accused of using the Internet to make arrangement for sex with what they believed were children.

The men accused, ranging in age from 19 to 51, allegedly showed up at a house in Seminole County within the past five days believing that they would meet children between the ages of 11 and 14.

Two of the men were vacationing in Central Florida, according to police. One was from Ohio, the other from Georgia.

Ten of the men arrested were from Seminole County. Others were from Orange, Volusia, Osceola, Polk, Lake and Putnam counties.

According to reports, a 26-year-old Winter Springs man told officers he set up the meeting with a child as a way to celebrate his wedding anniversary.

Those arrested include two pizza deliverymen, a postal worker, a security guard and a 20-year-old landscaper whose mother dropped him off at the decoy house.

Undercover deputies and police officers from other agencies posed as children or the parents of children willing to let their children have sex with the men. Officers used chat rooms, social media and other Internet sites to communicate with the men.

According to authorities, the suspects spent hours chatting online and at least one made a phone call to a woman officer, posing as a young girl.

Each suspect was arrested and accused of traveling to meet a minor for sex.

“Operation SafeNet” included several other law enforcement agencies, including the police departments in Apopka, Casselberry, Longwood, Oviedo and Sanford and the Sheriff’s Offices in Orange, Osceola, Volusia, Lake, Polk, Citrus, Manatee and Pinellas counties plus the FBI.

Internet sex stings are conducted to net as many arrests as possible. Typically, law enforcement will pose as minors online looking for sex with strangers. Other times, undercover detectives will pose as a parent or guardian of a minor looking to help their child have sex. Police will then engage in conversations back and forth with the suspect in the hopes of getting the individual to agree to travel to meet the child for illegal sexual activity.

Published on: March 17, 2014

Sarasota County Criminal Defense Attorney :: Sarasota Woman Found Guilty of Molesting 10-Year-Old Boy

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 29-year-old Sarasota woman was found guilty earlier this month of molesting a 10-year-old boy.

A jury convicted the woman of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child less than 12 years of age on March 5.

She will be sentenced at a later date. She faces anywhere between 25 years to life in prison for the sex offense.

The woman was apparently friends with the child’s mother and was staying in their home when the sexual abuse occurred last spring.

The boy testified at trial that the woman grabbed his genitals and he told her to stop. Three other alleged victims also testified.

According to reports, the woman apparently told the mother of a 12-year-old boy also staying at the home that she touched him. The mother ignored the comment at first, but then confronted her son who reportedly confirmed the sexual dealings. The mother did not report that alleged abuse to law enforcement because she thought she had a warrant for her arrest.

According to court documents, the youngest victim’s mother overheard her 15-year-old son say that the woman gave him oral sex. The woman asked her 12-year-old son about the alleged sexual contact and he confirmed the woman also touched his genitals.

Her 10-year-old son also said the woman touched him in a sexual manner, which led to the Sarasota woman’s recent conviction. She will go to trial this summer for those additional charges.

Child molestation is a very serious sex crime with severe legal and social ramifications. Even a simple accusation of this offense can ruin an individual’s career, personal connections and family relationships. There are very few crimes that are more repulsive to the public than sex offenses involving young children. A person accused of child molestation or any other type of sex crime cannot afford to ignore these charges. Cases of this nature should never be dealt with alone, so if you or someone you love has been accused of or charged with a sex offense in Sarasota, the best thing you can do is contact a Sarasota County Criminal Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton as soon as possible. Time is of the essence in these cases, as a thorough investigation into these allegations needs to be conducted right away.

Published on: March 4, 2014

Lake County Criminal Defense Attorney :: Clermont Child Sex Sting Nabs 3 Disney World Employees, 19 Others

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A weeklong online undercover operation to bust child predators looking to have sex with children in Florida ended in the arrests of 22 people, including three Disney World employees, according to authorities.

Last month, undercover deputies from the Lake County cyber-crimes unit in central Florida led the sting operation, dubbed “Operation Be Mine,” and lured suspects by masquerading as children in online chat forums, according to a police press release.

Once contact was made with the suspects, undercover agents made arrangements to meet with the men at a vacant house. The men allegedly arrived at the home anticipating having sex with minors, according to police. Once the men arrived at the meet-up spot, they were immediately arrested and taken to jail.

Of those arrested include a miniature golf course worker, a paramedic and a member of the National Guard.

According to a Disney spokeswoman, the three Disney employees arrested during the undercover operation have been placed on unpaid leave for the duration of the investigation.

One of the arrested Disney employees, a 32-year-old man, also faces several additional charges including failing to disclose HIV status to a sexual partner. Another of the Disney employees allegedly arrived at the meeting location carrying a knife and condoms, according to reports.

Police also claim that one of the suspects arrested brought a Happy Meal and condoms with him to the arranged meeting place.

All of the 22 suspects face up to five years in prison if convicted.

The road ahead can be very difficult for those accused in child predator stings. In these types of cases, police set up unsuspecting individuals to make them look bad by manipulating online chats, as well as e-mails and text messages. Most of these sting operations use specials task force units that specifically train officers to create these scenarios and turn what may be an innocent statement into one with sexual undertones. Undercover sting operations involving internet sex crimes are usually handled by overzealous detectives who are looking to make a large number of arrests. Unfortunately, many times these cases involve improper procedures and/or conduct by police officers. This is why you need the help of a criminal defense lawyer who can identify such evidence and have it thrown out as well as identify weaknesses in the prosecutions’ case that revolves around illegal police behavior.

Published on: February 25, 2014

Clay County Criminal Defense Attorney :: Clay Deputies Face Disciplinary Action after Wrong Teen Spends Month in Jail for Sexual Battery

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Three Clay County sheriff’s deputies are facing discipline after a high school student spent more than a month in jail charged as an adult in a sexual battery case all because he had the same name as the accused.

After a girl under the age of 12 told police she had sex with a Clay High student in the fall of 2012, investigators arrested a 17-year-old boy and booked him into the Clay County jail.

However, following a review of reports from the Green Cove Springs Police Department detailing the mother of the alleged victim having a verbal altercation with a boy that had the same name, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office began an internal investigation that revealed they had arrested the wrong teen.

The mistake was not uncovered until 35 days later when the teen received court documents detailing the charges against him.

According to reports, three Clay County deputies received formal counseling for the wrongful arrest and one deputy faces a 10-day unpaid suspension and a transfer from investigations to patrol.

Authorities claim that the Clay County deputies failed to confirm the suspect’s identity with a photo lineup.

Sadly, because of this error an innocent teen was arrested for a criminal offense that he did not commit.

A disciplinary hearing was being held for the deputies on Tuesday morning. The results have yet to be released.

Being investigated for a criminal offense or getting arrested in Clay County is not a fun or pleasant experience. The hours and days leading up to an arrest and those immediately following an arrest are highly important when it comes to protecting your legal rights. In most criminal cases, once an investigation has begun or an arrest has been made, there is no time to spare. A criminal defense attorney should be retained immediately to make sure police and prosecutors play by the rules. With that said, all criminal defendants have a right to legal counsel throughout the investigation process as well as during all criminal proceedings.

Published on: February 12, 2014

St. Johns County Criminal Defense Attorney :: St. Augustine Man Sentenced to 15 Years after Canadian Border Agents Intercept Child Porn

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a St. Augustine man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison Monday for transporting images and videos of child pornography to Canada.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office claims the 67-year-old man used a fake name to send a package from St. Augustine to Ontario containing nearly 600 images and videos of children engaged in sexual acts.

The package was apparently captured by Canadian law enforcement. Authorities then searched the man’s home in September.

A St. Augustine man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison Monday for transporting images and videos of child pornography to Canada.

The man admitted that he downloaded the child porn found in the package over several years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He was arrested, and he pleaded guilty in October.

Records indicate that the man is a registered sex offender. In 1992, he was convicted of three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct on a child in Hillsborough County.

State and federal law enforcement agencies do not mess around when it comes to investigating and prosecuting child pornography crimes. Whether you have been charged with possession, distribution or production of child pornography, make no mistake that law enforcement and prosecutors alike will seek maximum punishments. If convicted of a child pornography-related offense, the stakes are quite high. Consequences can include lengthy time behind bars, extensive sex offender registration requirements and criminal and civil forfeiture of personal property used in making child pornography, including any financial profits made from child pornography.