University Ex-Officer Accused of Threatening Family Member into Sex

An ex-Florida Polytechnic police officer has been arrested on charges of sexual battery, extortion, and aggravated stalking of a family member.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said that a woman first went to deputies about the man on Wednesday and said the allegations had been happening since the fall of 2012.

Deputies claim the woman provided hundreds of text messages from the past six months that showed the man trying to control, intimidate, isolate, and humiliate her.

In an arrest affidavit, deputies said the man allegedly used “force or violence likely to cause serious personal injury” to sexually batter the woman, and he blackmailed her into having sex with him by threatening to publicly share nude photos of her, deputies said.

The man had apparently worked for Florida Polytech University for two years and resigned when he was arrested, deputies said.

A sex crime combined with an extortion offense can result in serious criminal consequences. In extortion cases, a person is accused of forcing another person to do something against their will, like sending money or giving up property. Similarly, sextortion refers to blackmailing or threatening someone for explicit photos, money and even sex.

Sextortion is a second-degree felony in the state of Florida, which could translate to 15 years in prison. When combined with a sex crime, like sexual battery, the consequences are drastically enhanced. You must fight to protect yourself from these serious allegations, as they will not just go away on their own. Our Florida Sextortion Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can fight for your rights and do everything we can to achieve the best possible outcome for your particular situation.

To learn more about how we may be able to help with your case, call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation.