Sex Crimes

Published on: August 19, 2016

Clermont Man Arrested For Allegedly Soliciting Girl Online

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents arrested a 24-year-old man Wednesday for attempting to solicit a 10-year-old girl on the internet.

Authorities say the girl’s mother told the Orange County Sheriff’s Office that her daughter received sexually explicit material from a man.

Deputies then sent the case to FDLE agents in Orlando.

Over the course of the investigation, agents claim they discovered additional evidence that they say shows the man was both sending sexually explicit material and soliciting the 10-year-old to provide explicit material.

Investigators met with the man at his home in Clermont and arrested him. He is charged with transmitting material harmful to minors and using a computer to solicit a child.

The investigation is ongoing, according to reports.

Internet sex crimes, especially those involving minors, are viewed quite seriously by both prosecutors and judges alike. Juries tend to side with the child in these cases, which means an adult accused of soliciting a child could be facing major penalties if convicted. These charges must be dealt with right away, and a Lake County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you understand the full scope of the charges you are facing.

Published on: August 4, 2016

Former Plant City Middle School Teacher Accepts Plea Deal in Student Sex Case

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The case of a former Turkey Creek Middle School teacher accused of having a sex with a 15-year-old student will not go to trial.

The Brandon woman accepted a plea deal Monday. She received five years in Florida state prison, two years of community control (GPS monitoring), followed by 15 years’ probation.

The woman was arrested and charged with sexual battery, lewd and lascivious battery and lewd conduct in February 2015.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the woman established a relationship with the teenager, who was a student in her classroom.

Deputies claim the relationship turned physical with the woman having sex with the boy at the school during school hours and once in his bedroom.

The woman will also have to register as a sex offender.

The decision to take your chances with a jury or to negotiate a deal with prosecutors is never easy when you are faced with a criminal offense. A Hillsborough County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you weigh the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence along with the potential penalties for a conviction. In most cases, we can attempt to work out a deal to avoid or minimize prison time. As former prosecutors, we know how to evaluate the judge and the DA involved in your case, which means we can prepare a powerful strategy accordingly.

Published on: July 22, 2016

Citrus County Deputy Charged with Prostitution, Solicitation

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Citrus County sheriff’s deputy was arrested and charged with solicitation and engaging in prostitution, authorities said Wednesday.

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said the 31-year-old man was taken into custody.

Authorities said the arrest was in connection with an incident that occurred in Hernando County on July 4.

The man has been fired from his job in Citrus County, according to reports. An internal affairs investigation is being conducted.

He had been with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office since July 2015.

Prostitution is the exchange of sexual favors for a fee and is illegal in the state of Florida. Prostitution charges can result from a plethora of scenarios and carry significant consequences. The state of Florida takes an aggressive stance on prostitution and any related charges, like solicitation, are treated as serious sexual crimes.

Solicitation or prostitution is a severe criminal charge that should not be taken lightly. With that said, these charges often elicit fear, which is why you should never face these charges alone. A prostitution/solicitation offense can be detrimental to your personal life, career, reputation, and freedom.

A Citrus County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you with your sex crimes charge. We will fight to get the charges against you reduced so that you avoid harsh consequences that could devastate your life and career.

Published on: July 20, 2016

Largo Man Accused of Possessing Child Porn

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Largo man has been charged with possessing child pornography, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

The 69-year-old was arrested at his home on 126th Avenue Wednesday morning.

According to detectives, the investigation began in April after they received information that the man had child porn in his possession.

Investigators were allegedly able to recover six images depicting child pornography from electronic devices belonging to the man, according to reports.

He has been charged with six counts of possession of child pornography. He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail.

Whether you are facing possession of child pornography charges or the actual production of child porn, these charges are severe and require a strong criminal defense. As former prosecutors with the State, our Pinellas County Criminal Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can provide you with the thorough and aggressive legal defense you need.

We know that many of these cases involve online peer-to-peer file-sharing networks where the material is usually downloaded by mistake or embedded in with other files being downloaded that can later be traced to you. If you have been caught with child porn or have been contacted by police, it is best to invoke your rights to remain silent and contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Speaking with police without your attorney present, regardless of your innocence, can quickly backfire.

Published on: June 21, 2016

Kissimmee Man Charged With 3 Counts of Sexual Battery

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Kissimmee man accused of sexually battering a child has been arrested, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

The man was arrested June 15 and charged with three counts of capital sexual battery.

Deputies began their investigation into the man in April after receiving information about alleged sexual abuse.

The 13-year-old alleged victim told investigators that the man sexually battered and inappropriately touched her several times when she was between 9 and 12 years old.

A felony warrant was issued for the man’s arrest. He was located at a home in the 700 block of Hacienda Circle in Kissimmee.

The man was booked into the Osceola County Jail without bond.

Accusations of sexual battery can ruin your reputation even if your name is eventually cleared from any wrongdoing. Sadly, these cases usually rely on one person’s word against the other – the alleged victim vs. the accused. The prosecution will cling to any shred of evidence they have against the accused and fight aggressively to obtain a conviction. That is why you must take these charges seriously and make sure your rights are protected from the start of your case to its finish.

Published on: June 10, 2016

Violent Crime Up In Flagler County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The good news is that overall crime is down in Flagler County, but the bad news is that violent crime is up in many categories.

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Uniform Crime Report, the rates of rape, aggravated assault, burglaries and stolen vehicles all increase in 2015. There was also one murder in the county, up from zero in 2014.

Flagler County’s sheriff says his deputies have managed to keep the crime rate low for a long time. And despite increases in key categories, the overall crime rate is still down .6 percent.

The increase has been blamed on population growth. In the last four years, the county’s population has grown by about 10 percent.

The sheriff said whenever they start to see a spike in crime in specific areas, they flood the zones with patrols.

Statewide, crime is also up in several categories, although overall crime is down 1.6 percent.

In 2015, the crime rates rose in the following categories:

Murder: 5.7 percent
Rape: 6.1 percent
Fondling: 2.0 percent
Aggravated Assault: 3.9 percent
Motor vehicle Theft: 12.4 percent

The report also breaks down domestic violence-related crime by category. Overall, domestic violence-related crime is up .5 percent.

Published on: June 3, 2016

Brooksville Father Accused of Voyeurism, Child Neglect

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Brooksville father is accused of peering into the bedroom window of a teenage girl Tuesday night while leaving his 10-year-old son home alone with access to two loaded weapons.

The alleged incident happened in a neighborhood off of Trillum Boulevard, just east of the Suncoast Parkway.

Deputies claim a patrol deputy saw the 42-year-old peering into the bedroom window of an 18-year-old girl. When the man was first approached, he apparently concocted a story about searching for a dog he had lost six weeks prior.

When deputies further questioned him, the man allegedly admitted he had been looking at the teenage girl, and that it wasn’t the first time.

Following his arrest, deputies apparently learned the man left his 10-year-old son home alone with access to a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and a loaded 9mm pistol.

The man was charged with five counts of voyeurism and one count of child neglect.

He has since posted his $10,000 bail.

The law prohibits watching someone or taking an image of someone, for sexual gratification and without their consent. The crime of voyeurism, or Peeping Tom, is taken very seriously, especially with the recent scandal involving TV personality Erin Andrews. A voyeurism conviction will not only stain your record, but could lead to time behind bars and mandate that you register as a sexual offender. Being a registered sex offender will limit your freedoms, including where you live and work and even whether you are approved for a loan.

Published on: May 25, 2016

Polk County Teacher Allegedly Had Sex With 15-Year-Old Student

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Polk County deputies have arrested a Polk County high school teacher for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old female student.

The 34-year-old has been charged with three counts of sexual battery by custodian on a victim between 12 and 18 years old.

The sexual activity took place during the 2014-2015 school year, according to deputies.

Investigators claim the teacher and the student started “sexting” on their phones and then the relationship turned physical. A report alleges that there were two sexual encounters in a classroom at the school and another at the man’s home.

Investigators allege that when they questioned the man he blamed his behavior on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from serving in the military. According to reports, the man apparently told the girl he was involved with that he felt “guilty” about the relationship, because he was married and his wife was pregnant at the time.

The man has been an employee of Polk County Schools since 2010.

The district said he has been placed on administrative leave. A recommendation is being made to terminate him, according to reports.

Sex crimes charges are prosecuted quite aggressively in the state of Florida. After accusations have been made, it is important to get the legal help you need as these cases can be quite taxing on those accused due to the fact that they are very emotionally driven.

Everyone has the right to a fair trial. However, sexually based offenses carry a powerful social stigma that makes protecting your rights much more complicated than any other types of criminal charges. It is important to remember that you are entitled to a fair trial, even if the court of public opinion has already found you guilty.

Published on: May 6, 2016

Florida Corrections Officer Accused of Molesting Toddler At Daycare

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A state prison corrections officer was arrested this week after being accused of molesting a young girl at an Ormond Beach-area day care he co-owned.

The girl, who is now 9 years old, told her mother about the alleged abuse in April 2015, several years after it allegedly happened, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said.

The girl apparently told deputies that the 49-year-old touched her and showed her pornographic videos when she was at the daycare.

Deputies say the alleged abuse happened between 2008 and 2010.

The man was arrested Tuesday and is facing a lewd or lascivious molestation charge.

When a child makes a sex crimes accusation it is usually presumed to be true, without question, regardless of whether there is any truth behind it. That is why it is critical to retain legal help as soon as an accusation has been made against you, regardless of your innocence.

Child molestation is a very serious accusation. At Whittel & Melton, our Volusia County Criminal Defense Lawyers can work to help you whether you are the innocent victim of a false accusation or misunderstanding, or whether you have made a mistake. While each case is different, we have successfully handles many sex crimes cases and know how to handle these challenging situations.

If you are accused of child molestation, understand that you will likely automatically be viewed as guilty, not just by law enforcement and prosecutors, but also by your friends, coworkers, and even family members. You could even be separated from your own children, despite whether or not they are alleged victims.

Published on: April 21, 2016

South Florida Officer Fired After Prostitution Bust

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A South Florida police officer has been fired after authorities allege he got caught up in an undercover prostitution sting.

According to a Boynton Beach police spokeswoman, the man was fired last week. The eight-year veteran has been on paid administrative leave since October.

Police allege the man drove up to a woman he believed to be a prostitute and offered her $20 for oral sex. The woman was actually an undercover deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Boynton Beach police terminated the man for conduct unbecoming a police officer and conformance to law.

Prostitution stings are regularly conducted by police across the country. In some cases, law enforcement agents will place false advertisements for escorts or massage therapists online or in classified ads. In other cases, detectives will pose as prostitutes on the street or other areas looking to arrest “John’s,” or those looking to solicit sex. Responding to online ads or inquiring about sex could land an otherwise innocent person behind bars and facing charges of solicitation.

Solicitation of prostitution in Florida is against the law and carries serious legal consequences. Beyond the legal consequences, a charge of solicitation can wreck personal lives and relationships as well as end careers, as this case shows.