Sex Crimes

Published on: March 26, 2024

Polk County Undercover Sex Sting Yields Multiple Arrests | Florida Sex Crimes Defense Attorneys Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida has conducted a multi-agency undercover operation known as “Operation Predator V,” leading to the arrest of eight people for online sex crimes against minors.

Including assistance from the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, the Lakeland, Davenport, Auburndale, and Lake Wales police departments, the investigation took place from February 22 to 29.

Authorities said the suspects talked to and targeted people they believed to be kids or adults with internet access to kids.

After reportedly turning up to an undercover site in Polk County on multiple allegedly offering to pay hundreds of dollars to have sex with someone they believed to be a child, five of those apprehended were charged with human trafficking.

Investigators charged eight suspects with 27 felonies in total. The men charged range in ages 27-61.

Internet sting operations conducted by law enforcement all over the country are still very common, despite TV shows following these covert operations and media outlets reporting on alleged predators being arrested in these stings daily. In these undercover operations, police officers may pretend to be minors in an internet chat room or on social media sites. They will use several methods to attempt to turn the conversation sexual, and shift conversations into a meetup for a sexual encounter. Once the unsuspecting adult arrives at the designated meeting location, police officers will make an arrest and charge the individual with a sex crime.

After Being Targeted Online, What Should You Do?

Seeking legal representation for sexual offenses should be your priority if you are accused of any sexual offenses after any communications with undercover law enforcement. Throughout this unpleasant and stressful procedure, we are here to help you.

Anyone can make the mistake of chatting online with the wrong person or searching for an escort online only to find themselves wrapped up in an online undercover sting operation. Our Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton understand the ways law enforcement uses the internet, social media, and all other related technologies to make arrests of otherwise law-abiding citizens.

Criminal cases involving sex crimes of any kind, especially those involving minors, are all charged as felonies in the state of Florida. You could be looking at jail or prison time, significant fines, sex offender registration, probation and more. In addition to the criminal consequences, public disclosure of your arrest or conviction can damage your career and personal relationships. Continue reading

Published on: January 16, 2023

UF Phi Delta Theta Fraternity Member Arrested for Sexual Battery | Gainesville Sex Crimes Defense Attorneys Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Florida and Phi Delta Theta fraternity brother was arrested Wednesday on charges of sexual battery.

The Gainesville Police Department believes that the man and the alleged victim communicated via Snapchat for about 3 weeks. They apparently ran into each other at a downtown bar Wednesday and went to the man’s residence around 1 a.m. and engaged in consensual sex.

Shortly after the consensual sex, the alleged victim told police that the man forced himself upon them even though there was no consent. The man did stop, but only after several minutes, according to police reports.

The man apparently told police that he stopped the sexual activity within five seconds.

At around 3 a.m. the alleged victim left the man’s residence and had a sexual assault exam conducted at a local hospital.

According to the police report, the man allegedly told police he was too drunk to consent to any sexual activity and he was taken advantage of. He then apparently said that he was aware of what was happening and was able to make conscious decisions. He also allegedly said that he used a condom during both sexual encounters, but then told police he did not wear a condom.

The man allegedly told police that he was unsure if the alleged victim was a willing participant for the second sexual encounter. He said he did stop the sexual contact sometime after the alleged victim said they wanted him to stop. He allegedly said he takes responsibility for the time between when the alleged victim said they did not consent to the sexual activity and when he stopped.

Phi Delta Theta has suspended the man.

He has been released on $100,000 bail. He was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim during pretrial release in a standing no contact order.

If you have been accused of sexual battery or rape by your college, then you need to enlist the help of a college sex crime criminal defense lawyer right away. Many students who are facing sex crime accusations want to clear the matter up swiftly and think if they tell their side of the story that everything will just go back to normal. This is usually not the case, and allegations of sexual misconduct can have devastating consequences that can follow you around for the rest of your life.

If a school thinks that a rape happened on campus then they will report it to local law enforcement and will pursue school-imposed penalties. Moreover, an investigation will be launched against you by police and criminal charges may be filed. The potential penalties you may face for a rape conviction can involve hefty fines and years in prison.

Published on: August 24, 2022

Gary Busey Suspected of Several Sex Offenses at Monster Mania-Con | Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Actor Gary Busey, 78, known for playing the role of Chet Steadman in the 1993 classic “Rookie of the Year” and featured in the films “Point Break” and “The Buddy Holly Story,” is now facing several sex offense charges in connection with alleged incidents that occurred at Monster-Mania Con at a Doubletree Hotel near Philadelphia.

Busey was a featured celebrity at the convention that was held from Aug. 12 to 14.

On Friday, Cherry Hill detectives charged Busey, who resides in Malibu, California, with two counts of criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, one count of criminal attempt/criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, and one count of harassment, according to reports.

Three women allegedly came forward and told police that Busey groped and touched them inappropriately during a meet and greet at Monster-Mania Con in the afternoon of Aug. 13.

There is no further information available on these charges.

Whether you have already been arrested or are aware that you are the main suspect of a sex crime and are under investigation, you need to act fast as time is of the essence. You must not delay in building your defense strategy and you need to get legal help as soon as possible. Our Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton will work swiftly, creatively, and aggressively to ensure that you have a cutting-edge defense to help fight whatever serious sexual allegations you are facing. Whether you are up against state or federal sex offense, we have a proven team who can assist with your sex crime case today.

A sex crime conviction carries a very real stigma with it, along with severe consequences that can ruin your future even beyond time spent behind bars. You could be looking at registration as a sexual offender, which will restrict where you can live and work. You must fight back against sex crime allegations. Our Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can get started working on your case immediately, launching our own investigation into the matter and utilizing experts to establish the credibility of any alleged victims.

Will My Sex Crime Case Go to Trial?

You probably have many questions about your sex crime allegations, and whether your case proceeds to trial will rely on many factors, including if there is DNA or other corroborating evidence, if there are incriminating statements against you, and if the accuser(s) are credible or have lied in the past. Our experienced sex crime defense lawyers will scour all the evidence against you and help you understand exactly what you are up against so that you can make an educated and informed decision on whether you want to enter plea bargain negotiations or test your luck at trial. Continue reading

Published on: April 13, 2022

Former Hillsborough County Teacher and Coach Accused of New Molestation Charges | Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A former Hillsborough County teacher and coach has been arrested for the second time facing more allegations of child molestation, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

The 33-year-old ex-teacher and former volunteer coach was arrested Wednesday on new charges stemming from a football player who has accused him of sexually abusing him more than 50 times between 2017 and 2021. The former volunteer coach has been released on bail.

The man was initially arrested last month after being accused of inappropriately touching a child and showing pornographic images to the child at the school where he was a teacher.

Published on: February 8, 2022

Pasco County Teacher Charged with Sex Crime Against Middle School Student|Pasco County Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A teacher for the Pasco County School district has been arrested and charged with custodial authority sexual battery on a student.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into the 32-year-old man on January 2, 2022, after they received information about an alleged inappropriate relationship between the male teacher and student.

The alleged incidents took place when the student was 14-years-old.

Published on: January 27, 2022

Hillsborough County Band Director Pleads Guilty to Having Unlawful Sex with Student | Tampa Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A former Steinbrenner High School band director has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to having an unlawful sexual relationship with a student.

The 37-year-old man will also serve 10 years’ probation as a sex offender.

He is slated to turn himself into authorities on Monday, February 7 at 10 a.m. at the Orient Road Jail.

The man was arrested in June 2020.

Teachers are placed in trusted positions over young students, and because of this they are held to high standards. When they are accused of violating their positions of authority, things can quickly get messy. Due to the high number of cases of sexual abuse by teachers, counselors, coaches, clergy members, and other people in positions of authority, teachers need to be aware of the potential for accusation to arise regarding a potentially inappropriate teacher-student sexual relationship. Claims of this nature can be damaging to one’s career and reputation and lead to criminal charges carrying very severe consequences if a conviction is achieved.

If you are a teacher or another person placed in a position of trust among minors and have been accused of unlawful sex with a student, then you must fight back to protect your future. We believe that you are innocent until proven guilty and we will fight on your side to help prove your innocence.

Our Tampa Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton understand the urgency of your situation, which is why we will work hard to build you a powerful defense strategy. Our hope is to protect you from criminal charges and avoid you being forced to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life and all the challenges that this label brings with it. We also know that you have worked hard for your career and want to protect your status as an educator from being tarnished.

Just mere allegations of impropriety between a teacher and a student can stir up a lot of issues. You could be fired and humiliated AND face serious legal ramifications. Our Tampa Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want to encourage you to stay the course and not lose hope. By working with us, we can help you make the best decisions for your specific situation and work towards getting the charges against you reduced or dismissed entirely. Continue reading

Published on: July 21, 2021

Former Palm Beach County Deputy Receives 3 Years in Prison for Attempted Rape | Florida Sex Crimes Defense Attorneys Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A former Palm Beach County, Florida deputy has been sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to rape a woman when responding to a call.

On Thursday, the 42-year-old man was sentenced in Palm Beach County circuit court after admitting guilt to battery and attempted sexual battery. His sentencing was a part of a plea bargain with the prosecution.

His second trial was slated for later this month.

Published on: May 10, 2021

Tampa Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Student for Over a Year | Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Hillsborough County high school teacher is facing various charges for allegedly engaging in sexual activity with a student for over a year, according to reports.

The 46-year-old teacher is facing 12 counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor for his alleged involvement with a female student who was under the age of 18.

The sheriff’s office claims that from the time period between November 2019 and last December, the teacher allegedly had sex with the student, who was apparently in the man’s Spanish class at one point.

As of Saturday, the man remained in jail with bail set at $180,000.00.

Investigators did not say how they came to find out about the alleged sexual activity between the teacher and student.

Florida law does criminalize any sexual activity between people 24 or older and minors who are 16 or 17 years old. Accusations of sexual activity with a minor can be devastating for anyone, but this is especially true for educators, school officials, coaches, youth mentors, pastors, and anyone that is placed in a position of authority over children. The mere accusation that an educator was involved in a sexual relationship with a student or minor can lead to the immediate suspension of their teaching license and could result in an immediate suspension to their position or even permanent termination. Sex crimes allegations can negatively affect a teacher’s livelihood, their family relationships, their personal relationships, and every aspect of their life.

There is so much at stake when sex crimes accusations come about. Law enforcement and prosecutors take these allegations very seriously and will conduct a lengthy investigation to determine what exactly happened. They often side with the victims in these cases even if the only evidence is a student’s word against the teacher’s, so it is absolutely essential to retain legal counsel as soon as you are made aware of the accusations or charges against you. You are in for a fight, and you must trust your attorney to defend your rights, future, freedom, and career.

Our Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton fully understand how urgent and sensitive these situations are. As soon as allegations or criminal charges arise, we can piece together a strong defense on yoru behalf to help you avoid being labeled a sex offender for the duration of your life. We want to help you protect your good standing reputation within the community and keep your teaching career that you worked so hard for from being tarnished. We will do everything in our power to get you the best possible results for the sex crimes charges you are facing.

What Is Considered an Inappropriate Relationship with a Student?

It is certainly not unheard of for teachers and educators to form close relationships with their students. Teachers are placed in positions to help guide students towards bright futures, so being supportive role models is often expected of them. However, there is a fine line between role model and mentor and being too close with a student. While some behaviors should be obvious to educators in regards to inappropriateness, all school employees and volunteers should keep the following improper interactions with students in mind before engaging:

Any communications where an educator or school staff member solicits a romantic type of relationship with a student
Making ill-suited comments about a student’s body
Making sexually inappropriate comments to a student
Making any comments about a student’s sexuality/sex life/potential sexual performance
Requesting details about a student’s sexual history
Asking a student out on a date
Any comments or conversations about sexual preferences, fantasies, problems, etc.
Unprofessional behavior like hugging, kissing, or excessive touching
Hinting at a romantic relationship with a student once they turn 18 or graduate
Giving a student alcohol or drugs

Inappropriate behavior that occurs between a teacher and a student is taken very seriously by Florida school districts, police, and prosecutors. As we mentioned before, accusations regarding illegal sexual contact between an educator and a student can ruin your teaching career. Teachers and school staff must be very careful when it comes to their relationships with students as interactions can easily be misinterpreted and lead to criminal charges. Continue reading

Published on: April 16, 2021

High School Basketball Coach, Pastor, and 77 Others Arrested in Tampa Bay Sex Sting

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A week long undercover sex sting operation has resulted in the arrest of 79 people, including a high school girls’ basketball coach and a pastor.

The sting was conducted by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and called “Operation Takedown,” and launched to coincide with the past weekend’s WrestleMania 37 that was held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

The HCSO said that they believed the large even would yield a high number of people looking to take advantage of those in the Tampa community through human trafficking.

Detectives created online profiles as part of the undercover operation to chat with men looking to engage in sex acts for money. They also had female detectives pose as prostitutes, according to reports.

A 39-year-old pastor was arrested in the undercover operation. The Sheriff’s Office said that the man allegedly offered an undercover detective $25 for a sexual act after he took his children to their daycare. He is accused of reaching the deal with the undercover detective posing as a prostitute while his two kids were in the car with him.

Another man, a 39-year-old assistant girls’ basketball coach, was arrested after allegedly answering an ad posted by the undercover officers.

Both of the men are facing misdemeanor charges of soliciting another to commit prostitution. The pastor is facing two additional misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor due to the fact that his children were in the car with him when the alleged misconduct took place.

The operation also resulted in two men being arrested on human trafficking charges. They were both arrested after allegedly responding to an escort ad to have sex with a 17-year-old girl.

Another man, a 41-year-old registered sex offender, was arrested after he allegedly texted what he thought was a 14-year-old girl. He is facing charges of transmitting harmful material to a minor and traveling to meet a minor after using a computer to solicit illegal acts, as well as other charges, according to the HCSO.

Many people make the mistake of cruising the Internet for escorts and wind up involved in an undercover prostitution sting. The presence of web-based sex crimes has only increased police efforts to catch and prosecute those believed to be sexual predators. Police often use aggressive tactics to entrap innocent individuals with no criminal history into various situations that lead to their arrest. Our Florida Internet Sting Operation Lawyers at Whittel & Melton know how police operate in these undercover stings, and we can put our knowledge to work for your benefit. If you or someone you love has been accused of responding to an ad posted by an undercover detective, then let us help you fight these charges. We are familiar with how police and undercover agents use social media, the Internet, as well as text messages and online chats to illegally trap those that have never had any run-ins with the law before.

If you are arrested in an undercover Internet sting operation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office or any other agency, you can possibly face immediate consequences that can negatively impact your life. Your name and picture could appear online and show that you were arrested for solicitation or any other related charge. A public disclosure like this can tarnish your reputation in the community with friends and family as well as damage your job status.

When police officers use undercover agents to lure unsuspecting individuals into soliciting sex acts, this opens the door to the very real possibility of entrapment or other illegal tactics made by law enforcement. Our Florida Internet Sting Operation Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can review all of the evidence against you and identify any unlawful tactics used by police right away. Depending on the facts of your case, we may be able to use this as leverage to persuade the prosecution for a dismissal of the charges or a reduction of the charges against you. Every case is different, and while we can make no guarantees on the outcome of your case, we can promise to passionately fight for your reputation and liberty. We understand how overreaching police officers work, and we have developed our own team of experienced investigators and computer forensic experts who can help us build the best defense strategy tailored to your case. Continue reading

Published on: February 22, 2021

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Kellen Winslow II Takes 14 Year Prison Term Plea Deal for Sex Crimes | Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Former NFL player and Tampa Bay Buccaneer tight end Kellen Winslow II has accepted a new plea deal that will placed him behind bars for 14 years for rape, assaul, and other misdemeanor sex crimes, according to the plea agreement entered Friday in San Diego Superior Court.

The new plea deal will replace a previous agreement from his November 2019 case, where he plead guilty to rape and sexual battery charges in order to avoid life behind bars. The previous deal had a sentencing range of 12 to 18 years in prison that would be decided by a judge following a sentencing hearing.

37-year-old Winslow appeared remotely in a court hearing from jail in San Diego County. He told the judge he would like to agree to 14 years, according to reports.

The new plea deal also includes a new guilty plea by Winslow who apparently assaulted a female hitchhiker in her mid-50s with the intent to commit rape in March 2018.

Winslow’s sentencing hearing is set for March 3, which is when final judgement will come.

The jury in Winslow’s first trial in the spring of 2019 could not reach a unanimous verdict on all his charges. Winslow was almost sentenced last year under the old deal, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed Winslow’s sentencing scheduled for last March.

The new plea agreement helps both sides avoid certain risks: the prosecutors avoid Winslow getting a shorter sentence and Winslow avoids a life in prison sentence, a risk associated with another trial.

All of Winslow’s crimes took place in San Diego County. His first trial took place in June 2019 where a jury found him guilty of raping a homeless woman and exposing himself to a woman in his neighborhood in May 2018, as well as making a lewd gesture towards a woman at a gym in February 2019.

Winslow also admitted guilt in November 2019 to raping an acquaintance while she was unconscious at a party in 2003, when she was 17 and he was 19.

In his new plea deal, he also pleaded guilty to assaulting the hitchhiker with the intent to commit rape.

Winslow has been in jail since March 2019, which will serve towards his 14-year sentence.

At his first trial in spring 2019, Winslow was convicted by a jury for some of the charges against him.

In June 2019, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the other charges against him, which led to a retrial scheduled for November 2019.

If the new jury had convicted him on the remaining counts, he could have faced life in prison. However, Winslow opted to avoid that risk by making a plea agreement.

Winslow’s attorneys previously argued that he suffered from brain injuries from football and a motorcycle accident in 2005, which they said resulted in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is linked to football head trauma. This frontal lobe damage is what his attorney’s believe led to changes in his behavior. They estimated he suffered more than 1,000 head injuries over the course of his football career, which ended in 2013.

A sex crimes conviction is perhaps one of the more devastating convictions a person can face. You could be looking at years behind bars, large fines, and the lifelong requirement to register as a sex offender. This means your name and information will be made available to the public, you will face restrictions on where you can live and work, and you may not be able to visit certain public spaces. This is why you need to get legal help with a sex crimes accusation as soon as possible as your future and freedom are most certainly at stake. Our Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you understand your rights and legal options available to you in regards to the sex crimes charges you are facing.

Why Do You Need to Hire a Sex Crimes Lawyer? Continue reading