Sex Crimes

Published on: January 28, 2014

Pinellas County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Pinellas Child Predator Sting Nets 35 Arrests

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A four-day child predator investigation in Pinellas County that involved local, state and federal investigators resulted in 35 arrests.

The sting, dubbed “Operation Home Alone,” targeted people seeking minors online for sexual relations.

The suspects, ranging between 19 and 65 years of age, are from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Manatee counties. Police claim one suspect drove his bike to Clearwater from Kenneth City. Another is accused of driving from Miami, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation was organized by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Clearwater Police Department and also involved the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The sting started at 2 p.m. Thursday and ended at 2 a.m. Monday. The undercover operation used 12 investigators posing as minors to chat online with suspects. Reports indicate that detectives worked from 2 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the entire four days at computers set up in a training room at Clearwater police headquarters.

Investigators posted ads and chatted with people on more than a dozen websites, including backpage.com and Craig’s List. According to police, once a suspect arranged to meet with a minor, officers out on patrol were notified to arrive at the meeting locations and arrest those that showed up. Officials said that four meeting places in north Pinellas County were used.

Call a Pinellas County Criminal Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton today at 727-823-0000 to find out how we can help you.

Those arrested were brought to the Clearwater Police Department where they were interviewed and shown the transcripts of their online conversations before being transferred to the Pinellas County jail.

Those arrested will likely face charges related to traveling to meet a minor, sexual battery and procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution, according to police.

Ever since “To Catch A Predator” aired on NBC’s Dateline, local, state and federal law enforcement officers have stepped their game up in regards to catching those suspected of committing sex crimes via the Internet. By conducting undercover sex stings, police work around the clock for a certain time frame posing as minors or the parents or guardians of minors looking to arrange sexual encounters. Once arrests are made, the media often paints the worst picture possible regarding the suspects involved and fails to acknowledge whether those detained were the possible victims of police entrapment – when an officer’s behavior induces a person to commit a crime they otherwise would not have committed.

The entrapment defense requires thorough investigation and must be constructed carefully if used as a successful defense strategy. A Pinellas County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can review the events leading up to your arrest and determine if this is a viable defense option.

Published on: January 27, 2014

Bradford County Criminal Defense Attorney :: Ex-Bradford Officer Charged with Child Pornography

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Bradford County Sheriff’s Office jail corrections officer who was arrested two weeks ago on allegations he sexually battered a child was re-arrested last week on 12 new counts including child pornography charges.

According to a Bradford County Sheriff’s Office report, the new charges against the 59-year-old Starke man stem from an investigation related to the initial arrest for sexual battery.

Investigators from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement claim that a search of the man’s computers, a cellphone and other items recovered during the original search warrant on Jan. 10 revealed additional evidence.

For the sexual battery case, the Florida Department of Children and Families and the FDLE alleges the case involved a child under the age of 12. The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office claims there are some other possible victims who were interviewed.

Ex-Bradford Officer Charged with Child Pornography

The accused, who was hired in May 2007 and held the rank of corporal, resigned following interviews during the initial investigation. He was bonded out of jail earlier this week on a charge of capital sexual battery, but deputies and agents with FDLE took him into custody again at his home on Jan. 15.

He was arrested on charges of promoting or distributing sexual performance by a child and 11 counts of possession of child pornography.

The man was re-booked into the Bradford County Jail, then transferred to an undisclosed correctional facility for security purposes. His bail has been set at $1.2 million.

Federal and local law enforcement officials often work closely together to identify and track individuals suspected of possessing or distributing child pornography. Police usually act quickly when it comes to child pornography cases and will seize any hardware, such as computers, cellphones, ipads, tablets, etc. that could contain any illegal images.

Published on: December 17, 2013

Palm Beach County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: FAU Employee Accused of Filming Men Urinating in Campus Bathrooms

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 40-year-old Florida Atlantic University employee is accused of secretly filming other men with his iPhone while they urinated in campus bathrooms, then posting the videos to pornographic websites, according to Palm Beach County police.

The university library staff member allegedly filmed the exposed genitals of 13 males as they urinated.

The men on the films apparently did not know they were being videotaped.

One of the men in the films, a 26-year-old student, started the investigation by clueing police in to a video posted of him on an adult site that showed him using the bathroom.

The student went to FAU police on June 20. He told detectives that a 30-second video of him had been posted to Pornhub.com by somebody with the username JERKING_BUD.

Police apparently retrieved campus surveillance video and started following a digital trail, which lead to a search warrant being executed at the Lake Worth man’s home on Aug. 14, where police seized various items, including a laptop computer that allegedly stored “hundreds” of voyeuristic videos.

The man was immediately placed on administrative leave, and two days later, he resigned from his position as a coordinator of academic support services in the FAU libraries. He had been an FAU employee since 2002, according to a university spokeswoman.

Subpoenas were sent out to Pornhub.com, Yahoo! and AT&T as part of the investigation.

Pornhub.com apparently told police on June 28 that a video of the student urinating was posted on June 4 and garnered 3,106 views, according to reports. It was one of 17 videos posted to the same profile.

From the subpoenas, police claim they discovered that an email used on the FAU network was used to access the porn sites.

Police claim that during an interview the man confessed to using his iPhone to secretly record numerous people, including himself. The man allegedly recorded other men masturbating as well.

The man was charged with 13 counts of video voyeurism and four counts of video voyeurism dissemination.

State records indicate the man has no prior arrests. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail Tuesday afternoon, and was released later that night after his bail was set at $51,000.

The laws in Florida make it illegal to watch, film or photograph a person in a private area without their consent. A private area can be defined as a bathroom, gym locker room or any other area that someone has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Published on: December 9, 2013

Miami-Dade County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Hialeah Woman Accused of Having Sex with 15-Year-Old Boy

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 24-year-old Hialeah woman was arrested Tuesday and charged with having sex with a 15-year-old boy, according to police.

The woman was charged with two felonies, including lewd and lascivious battery on a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Police claim the woman knew the victim as he is allegedly related to her jailed boyfriend.

According to a police report, the victim stated that the woman entered his locked bedroom uninvited on Nov. 25 just shortly before 2 a.m. and “enticed him to have sexual intercourse with her.” She allegedly performed oral sex on the boy.

The report also indicates the boy told police “since he was a virgin, he felt intimidated by the defendant.”

The boy also told police the woman smokes marijuana and offered it to him, but he refused. He claims she asked where she could buy “Mollies, marijuana or cocaine.”

The woman allegedly admitted to having sex with the boy during police questioning.

Lewd and lascivious battery, also known as statutory rape, is defined in the state of Florida as any sexual activity with a child older than 12, but younger than 16 or encouraging, forcing, or enticing a child older than 12, but younger than 16 to engage in any sexual act. This sex crime is classified as a second-degree felony, and a first time offender convicted of this offense faces very serious consequences, including up to 15 years in prison.

Published on: November 26, 2013

Sumter County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Two Men Arrested on Child Porn Charges in Separate Cases

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has reported that they arrested a 50-year-old Bushnell paramedic after a raid of his home Wednesday apparently revealed dozens of illegal pornographic images.

The man also allegedly confessed to molesting a 15-year-old.

The man was charged with 12 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of lewd and lascivious behavior. He was taken to the Sumter County jail where he remained Thursday in lieu of $39,000 bail.

According to a sheriff’s spokesman, an ongoing operation by the Citrus and Sumter sheriff’s offices led investigators to believe that child pornography was being downloaded in the man’s home in Bushnell.

Deputies obtained a search warrant and raided the man’s home, seizing his laptop, which apparently contained at least 120 child pornography files, according to an arrest affidavit.

Detectives claim that the man told them he was addicted to child pornography.

At least 12 of the files are believed to contain minors, however the investigation is ongoing.

During the raid, the man allegedly told police that he groped a 15-year-old. Detectives apparently spoke with the teen, who allegedly confirmed the allegations.

In a separate case, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office arrested an 18-year-old student who is accused of having a sexual relationship with a student younger than 16 years old.
The man has been charged with lewd and lascivious battery, as well as transmission of material harmful to minors, after police say he allegedly sent nude pictures of himself from his cell phone to the victim.

The man is currently being held in the Sumter County jail with bail set at $19,000.

Law enforcement officers are trained to find child pornography files on the Internet. Additionally, they are able to determine who downloads these files from a computer’s IP address. Once law enforcement has detected where these downloads are coming from, they will obtain a search warrant and seize the computer as evidence.

Published on: November 18, 2013

Seminole County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Four Women Arrested in Lake Mary Prostitution Bust

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Four women were arrested last month in a prostitution sting at the La Quinta Hotel in Lake Mary.

Authorities claim the women were arrested after offering sex for hundreds of dollars at the hotel, which is located just off Interstate 4.

Undercover deputies apparently met the woman at the hotel after responding to ads listed on various websites, including Backpage.com and BodyRubList.com. The women allegedly agreed to perform sex acts for hundreds of dollars.

According to authorities, none of the women arrested live in Lake Mary.

The consequences related to a prostitution offense can be quite harsh, even if this is your first arrest. A first-time prostitution conviction can land you in county jail for up to 60 days. A second conviction can result in one year behind bars. A third or subsequent conviction for prostitution can carry up to five years in prison. Along with jail and/or prison time, a prostitution conviction can ruin your reputation, destroy your personal relationships and even restrict future career options.

If you have been arrested for a prostitution-related offense in Lake Mary, Oviedo, Altamonte Springs or the surrounding area, know that there is help available to you. A Seminole County Criminal Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton can make sure you understand the charges against you and what can be done to defeat them. As former prosecutors, we are very familiar with the inner workings of undercover prostitution stings and are knowledgeable about the laws involving entrapment. We can review the State’s case against you and challenge evidence involving these undercover busts while pursuing the strongest defense for your prostitution charges.

Published on: November 11, 2013

Pinellas County Criminal Defense Attorney :: Dunedin Chef Accused of “Training” 3-Year-Old for Sex

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

FBI agents have charged a Pinellas County chef with federal child pornography charges after he allegedly admitted he made sexually explicit videos of a 3-year-old girl he was babysitting.

The 27-year-old Dunedin man apparently sent online chat messages under his name that graphically describe “training” a 3-year-old to perform a sex act, according to authorities.

The man was arrested late Tuesday after the FBI searched his home.

According to an FBI special agent, the man admitted to the production, transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography. He also claims the man confessed to storing the images on two cellphones and a laptop computer.

A criminal complaint against the man alleges that he shared his own productions on the Internet so that he could gain access to other people’s pornography.

“He admitted that these images and other child pornography images he had downloaded and possessed were sexually gratifying to him,” according to the agent’s report.

The man was held in the Pinellas County Jail, pending a bond hearing Friday in U.S. District Court in Tampa.

Federal law prohibits the possession, production, receipt, transportation and distribution of images that depict minors in sexual situations. The potential punishments for a conviction of these crimes are usually quite severe, including up to decades behind bars, massive fines, registration as a sexual offender and a lifetime of public stigma.

Published on: November 9, 2013

Hardee County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Hardee County Sheriff’s Brother Accused of Sexually Abusing Young Girl

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The brother of the Hardee County sheriff has recently been charged with sexually abusing a young girl six years ago.

The 62-year-old Zolfo Springs man was arrested Wednesday during a joint investigation by the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

According to the sheriff’s office, the investigation began on Oct. 30 after the chief deputy discovered that the man may have had inappropriate conduct several years ago with a girl who was approximately 5 or 6 years old.

The chief deputy contacted FDLE agents on Nov. 1 after allegedly confirming the “strong
possibility” that the abuse had occurred.
Investigators claim that the man ultimately admitted to the allegations and was arrested.

The man is now facing charges of attempted sexual battery under the age of 12 and lewd and lascivious behavior.

He is currently being held without bond at the Hardee County Jail.

Officials said the sheriff requested that the investigation into the allegations be handled “without bias” and to handle the case by the book.

Sexual battery is classified as a felony in Florida and is considered to be one of the most heinous types of crimes. Also known as sexual abuse, sexual battery is most commonly referred to as rape. If you have been charged with rape or attempted rape, it is vital to obtain legal help from a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible, before making any statements to law enforcement or the prosecution.

Published on: October 28, 2013

Charlotte County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Punta Gorda Woman Accused of Sexual Battery

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Punta Gorda woman was arrested Sunday night on sexual battery charges after an alleged altercation in Port Charlotte from which she tried to escape by hiding in the trunk of a car.

Detectives arrested the 34-year-old woman on charges of Sexual Battery, Felony Battery by Strangulation and Resisting Arrest without Violence.

Reports indicate that deputies were called to a location in Port Charlotte just before 10 p.m. Thursday for a disturbance.

One of the responding deputies apparently got close to the area when he was passed by a vehicle speeding away without any headlights. He stopped the vehicle and the driver allegedly told him that the woman was hiding in the trunk. Reports indicate they opened the trunk and found the woman with blood on her.

Several witnesses apparently told deputies that they heard yelling and screaming coming from a nearby residence.

According to deputies, the victim claims the woman arrived at her home earlier in the evening and had become violent with her. The alleged victim was apparently hit, choked and sexually battered by the woman with an inanimate object.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where she was treated for any injuries. Police claim evidence was found that backs up her account of what happened.

Detectives report that the woman kicked an interview room door and attempted to pull away while being handcuffed when police told her she was being arrested.

She was subdued and taken to the Charlotte County Jail on a $57,000 bond.

Sexual battery charges are quite serious and can be some of the most difficult cases to resolve. In many cases, there is often very little evidence that proves a crime actually occurred. These cases usually come down to one person’s word against the other, and unfortunately the court tends to side with the victim. While sexual battery charges carry very severe consequences, a Port Charlotte Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you seek a positive outcome. In most sex crimes cases, a strong defense can actually result in reduced charges, reduced penalties or even a complete dismissal of all charges stacked against you. Even if you are under the impression that the evidence against you is overwhelming, a powerful defense can minimize the consequences that you receive.

Published on: October 21, 2013

Volusia County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Marathon Man Accused of Masturbating on Amtrak

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 33-year-old Marathon man was arrested Tuesday and charged with lewd or lascivious exhibition for allegedly masturbating in clear view of passengers on an Amtrak train.

The man is accused of exposing himself in front of a young child during the alleged incident.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office was called to the Amtrak station just west of DeLand Tuesday morning after the conductor apparently reported the incident to Amtrak authorities. An Amtrak agent put in a call to the Sheriff’s Office warning them that the train was due in the station in just a few minutes.

When deputies arrived at the station shortly after 9 a.m., the train had arrived and they talked to a passenger in the coach section who claims the man was masturbating in the seat next to him while he was trying to sleep. The witness alleges the man exited his seat while still exposed and walked down the aisle to the bathroom, where he passed a small child who appeared to be around 3-years-old.

According to deputies, the man said his blanket was moving back and forth because his stomach was itchy. Deputies claim the man later told them that he might have accidentally ejaculated on the bathroom floor.

The man was arrested for lewd or lascivious exhibition in the presence of a victim under the age of 16 and transported to the Volusia County Jail in Daytona Beach.

Any person convicted of lewd or lascivious exhibition faces severe consequences, including the very real possibility of being forced to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator. Registered sex offenders are required to comply with a strict set of registration laws in Florida and throughout the United States. If you are under investigation for lewd and lascivious exhibition or have already been arrested or charged with this offense in DeLand, Daytona Beach, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach or Orange City, it is best to contact a Volusia County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton as soon as possible to protect your rights. As former prosecutors, we understand how the State and law enforcement officers investigate these types of cases.
To schedule a free initial consultation with us, please call us today at 866-608-5529.