BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A Miramar police officer who’s accused of having sex with a minor remaining June pleaded guilty in court docket Wednesday to an irritated kid abuse fee.
While in court docket, Jose Robell Hernandez, 29, approved the plea prerequisites and used to be sentenced by way of Judge Carlos Lopez, of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, to ten years of probation and used to be additionally ordered to give up his police certifications.
According to an arrest warrant, Hernandez, who used to be 28 years outdated on the time of the incident and engaged to be married to a girl of his similar age, met a 17-year-old lady on Tinder who he started a sexual courting with remaining March.
Police mentioned the teenager admitted to mendacity about her age to Hernandez, telling him she used to be 23. She later advised him she used to be 18 years outdated, about to show 19, government showed.
According to the warrant, the sexual courting got here to gentle by way of Miami Gardens police on April 13, 2023, when the sufferer referred to as 911 whilst strolling her canine as a result of she had stumbled upon a rubbish bag that she idea contained a frame.
Miami Gardens police mentioned they showed there used to be no frame within the bag and the sufferer gave the look to be affected by a psychological well being disaster.
“The victim stated, ‘I’m so confused. I’m so nervous and admitted to being off her medications, the arrest warrant stated.
According to the warrant, officers asked the teen if they could call her parents and she handed her phone to one of the officers.
Authorities said the officer then came across text messages between the teen and Hernandez, which suggested they had a sexual relationship.
According to the warrant, the teen admitted to meeting up with Hernandez three times, including at a motel in Hialeah where they had sex.
The teen later notified police that Hernandez called her from an unknown number on May 23 and asked her whether she had lied to him about her age, telling her that he was in trouble and was going to lose his job.
Although the teen never told Hernandez she was underage, Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Grieco told Local 10 News that it doesn’t matter in the eyes of the law.
“The law is what we call a ‘strict liability statute,’ which essentially states that saying they had bad information, or the younger person lied about their age, that is not a defense. The lesson learned is you can’t take someone’s age at face value,”’ Grieco mentioned.
Hernandez didn’t have a lot to mention to Local 10 News reporter Christina Vazquez simply moments after accepting his plea deal.
“Any thoughts about accepting this plea?” requested Vazquez.
“Uh, no,” mentioned Hernandez.
“What about giving up your police certification?” Vasquez requested.
“I would like not to talk please,” Hernandez spoke back.
Miramar police mentioned that Hernandez used to be up to now suspended with out pay pending the end result of this situation.
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