Girl in Coma After Man Gave Her Drugs and Sexually Assaulted Her

Qualified Help from a Fort Lauderdale Sexual Assault Attorney

In the early morning hours of June 25, a Florida man allegedly took a 15-year-old girl to his home near Fort Lauderdale, gave her drugs and sexually assaulted her. The victim is now reportedly fighting for her life at a local hospital.

According to authorities, the man met the girl at a party she threw at her mother’s home a few hours before the alleged incident took place. The event was only supposed to be open to the girl’s friends, but a party invitation she posted in a closed social media group ended up being shared with others. Unfortunately, that led to strangers showing up at the gathering. One of those strangers was an 18-year-old man from Miramar, who invited the girl and some of her friends over to his place after the party ended at approximately 1 a.m. Once there, witnesses say he gave the girl two prescription painkillers and had sex with her. He then took to Instagram to post a video of her lying naked and face down on a couch. He later posted a second video of her lying nude on her back.

Some of the girl’s friends saw the videos online and noticed that her lips were blue. They drove to the man’s house, picked her up and drove her to Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, performing CPR along the way. She was later transferred to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, where she remains in a coma. According to investigators, she suffered organ failure, internal bleeding and potential brain damage from oxygen deprivation.

Hiring a Fort Lauderdale Sexual Assault Attorney

The man was arrested on June 26 and charged with sexual assault of a minor and publishing pornography. In order to avoid conviction, he will need a Fort Lauderdale sexual assault attorney to defend him in court. Florida takes a harsh stance on sexual assault crimes, which are considered felonies. In fact, defendants convicted of committing sexual assault on a victim over the age of 12 who is physically incapacitated, as allegedly occurred in this case, can be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison. However, a Fort Lauderdale sexual assault attorney has experience defending individuals charged with such crimes and could do everything possible to protect a defendant’s future. For instance, by investigating the case and challenging witness accounts, the attorney might be able to get the charges reduced or dismissed. If you or someone you know is facing sexual assault charges, contact Hassett & Associates, P.A. at 954-791-3939 for a free consultation.

Legal Assistance for Those Charged With Sexual Battery

Sex Crimes

In a strange and disturbing tale of delayed justice, a Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) deputy has been charged with sexual battery in connection with a case dating back two decades. The the case is even more serious when considering that the victim was a minor at the time of the alleged abuse. This defendant and others charged with the same offense face serious consequences if convicted, which is a good reason for them to seek the services of a Broward criminal defense attorney. They can find this type of help from the law office of Hassett & Associates.

The 58-year-old deputy is facing four counts of sexual battery on the alleged victim, who today is 28 years of age. She claims that she was assaulted by him a number of times between the ages of seven and 11, with the offenses occurring when the two were living together in West Palm Beach. She has alleged that, while driving her to school, he would touch her in an inappropriate manner. Additionally, he reportedly performed various sex acts with her and made her join him in the viewing of pornographic videotapes.

In one case, the alleged victim was forced to hide behind a refrigerator while naked after her mother unexpectedly returned home. She said he instructed her not to discuss any of her experiences with anyone else. Believing that the defendant was a law enforcement officer because of the uniform he wore and the vehicle he drove, she was hesitant to mention the continued assaults. According to official records, the defendant served as a BSO detention deputy for six years beginning in 2005 and, after a short period of retirement, was hired back in 2013. He has been suspended without pay.

Broward Sexual Battery Defense Attorney

In Florida, a person convicted of sexual battery with someone under the age of 12 could face a penalty of life in prison. The state has no statute of limitations in such crimes when the victim is a minor, but such time limits are in effect in the prosecution of other sex crimes. Additionally, those charged with sex offenses have other ways of defending themselves, including the claim that an encounter was consensual. However, it will take the intervention of a Broward sexual battery defense attorney to ensure that such criminal defendants receive the legal representation that they need and deserve. If you have been charged with sexual battery or any criminal offense, you should consider contacting the law firm of Hassett & Associates at 954-791-3939.

Broward County Teacher Accused of Sexual Battery on Student

Sex Crimes

On Thursday, January 11, 2019, a male teacher from the Broward County, Florida area was arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a female student. According to Plantation police, the relationship was initiated when the girl was only 13 years old. The teacher is employed at Sinai Haitian Seventh-day Adventist School located in Plantation. Following this arrest, it would be wise for the man to contact a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney.

According to the police report, the girl’s parents gave the child a cell phone at the beginning of the school year. A few short months later, the mother noticed that her daughter was texting someone and subsequently confiscated the smartphone.

The police stated that the mother read a conversation that was sexually graphic on the girl’s phone. After prodding the daughter, it was revealed that the person with whom the girl was communicating was her social studies and math teacher.

The girl is now only 14 years old. She admitted to detectives that the relationship with the teacher started after he had tricked her into going to a back room early in the school year to help him organize classroom supplies. The police reported that the girl said the man kissed her passionately on the lips and neck and proceeded to touch her in inappropriate places, including her private parts and breasts.

The arrest report revealed that the man was the girl’s teacher for three straight years, spanning from her sixth to eighth grade years. Further, it revealed that the teacher claimed to have wanted the girl ever since he first saw her when she was only in fifth grade. He also said in a text conversation to the girl that he wanted to marry her.

The male teacher was arrested and charged with custodial sexual battery and two more charges against a minor. He said he would cooperate with the investigation but wanted a plea deal. Currently, he is being held in jail on a bond of $400,000.

Any charge of sexual battery is very serious, but it is even more grave if the charges against you involve a minor. If you are arrested on such charges and are located in the state of Florida, you should get in touch with a Fort Lauderdale sexual battery defense lawyer immediately. Contact the law office of Hassett & Associates, P.A. at (954) 791-3939 at your earliest convenience. A skilled Fort Lauderdale sexual battery defense lawyer will start building a strong defense for your case.

Fort Lauderdale Massage Therapist Charged with Sexual Battery

Sex Crimes

A 32-year-old Massage Envy employee in Fort Lauderdale has been placed under arrest for an alleged sexual assault on a customer last month. The victim reported to police that the man massaged her legs near her groin area while she was on her back. The man reportedly asked her if she played sports since her groin was tight. The woman said that during the massage, she could feel a blanket that was covering her slowly moving aside and exposing part of her vagina. When she asked the therapist to simply focus on her back, he was reported to have digitally penetrated her.

The woman told Fort Lauderdale Police that she reported the incident to the receptionist of the business. The receptionist took her to another room where she wrote out a statement. After leaving the business, she contacted police, but the business was closed by the time police arrived. When a detective investigated the allegations the next day, the accused therapist denied the allegations. Upon further investigation, the man was placed under arrest after he reportedly changed his story.

Kenneth Hassett is a Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer attorney. He advises that in order to prove sexual battery in the subject case, the prosecution would be required to prove sexual penetration without consent. If the victim was over the age of 18 at the time of the sexual battery, the crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 34.5 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. A conviction would also require the offender to permanently register as a sex offender. In an aggravated case of sexual battery, an offender can be sentenced to life in prison.

Given the harsh sentencing possibilities, a person who has been charged with sexual battery in or around the Fort Lauderdale area needs to contact an experienced and effective Fort Lauderdale sexual battery attorney right away. The prosecution has the burden of proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Invoke and protect your rights. If you or somebody close to you has been charged with any type of sex offense, don’t give a statement or confession to police. Instead, contact Fort Lauderdale sexual battery defense attorney Kenneth Hassett at Hassett & Associates, P.A. Call 954-791-3939 right away.

Man Arrested for Sexual Battery of a Mentally Handicapped Woman in 2004

Sex Crimes

A man faces allegations that he sexually assaulted a mentally challenged woman. The allegations say that the man assaulted the victim in 2004. Police arrested him at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport as he tried to board a plane to Haiti.

The charged man needs a Fort Lauderdale sexual battery attorney to respond to allegations that he assaulted the disabled woman on more than one occasion and left her pregnant. The man went missing for several years, and the police finally tracked him down at the airport. The find comes after a search warrant for the man’s DNA revealed the man’s paternity of the unborn child. Police say that the man has confessed to the crime.

The state’s attorney charged two counts of sexual battery towards a person with a mental defect. As a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer can explain, to face this charge, the victim must have a mental impairment that renders them incapable of understanding and giving consent to a sexual act. Florida law 794.011 prohibits sexual battery in any circumstance where the other party can’t consent. This may be because of a mental defect or because of a temporary physical or mental incapacity.

It’s important to work with an experienced Fort Lauderdale sexual battery attorney if you’re facing this type of charge. The severity of the offense depends on the exact circumstances in the allegations. In some cases where the victim is young, sexual battery can be a capital offense. It’s also a life offense in certain cases. All sexual battery cases are felonies when they involve a victim that doesn’t have the capacity to consent.

If you’re facing a sexual offense, our sexual battery criminal defense lawyer team may be able to help. There’s often a dispute as to the true facts of a sex crime case. A witness might not tell the entire truth, or there may be doubt as to whether a victim was truly incapacitated as the state alleges. It’s important to work with an attorney in order to prepare your best possible defense and hold the state to its burden of proof.

With such significant potential consequences, it’s important to work with a skilled attorney. A conviction for a sexual offense can follow you for the rest of your life. In addition to immediate consequences such as jail time and fines, it can be difficult to find employment. An aggressive defense is critical to fully asserting your rights under Florida law and protecting your future. If you’re facing a criminal charge, contact the law offices of Kenneth Hassett to talk about the case.

Broward Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sexual Assault on Student

Sex Crimes

A Broward County teacher has been arrested for having sex with a minor. The 33-year-old teacher was taken into custody in Tamarac on Thursday. She is being charged with two charges of sexual assault on a minor and one count of lewd and lascivious act on a minor.

According to the police report, the teacher, who is currently employed at Forest Glen Middle School, was discovered in the back seat of a vehicle parked near NW 70th Ave and 58th Street with a 15-year-old boy. Officials with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said the boy was a former student of the teacher. Investigators say they don’t believe any other children are involved.

The teacher’s bond was set at $37,500. While charges are pending, she is required to wear an ankle bracelet, and she is not allowed to contact the victim. She is also not allowed to return to her teaching job while charges are pending.

Sexual assault is a serious crime that can be punishable by several years in prison. Any person who has been accused of sexual assault should retain a lawyer as quickly as possible. Kenneth P. Hassett of Hassett & Associates is a highly-experienced Broward County sexual assault attorney who can help you with your case. Sexual assault cases are often not cut and dry. The Prosecuting Attorney must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. Sexual assault is undoubtedly a serious crime. Sadly, there a few cases where people are falsely accused. Kenneth Hassett will launch a vigorous defense to secure your rights during trial.

If you know someone who has been accused of sexual assault and needs good Broward County sexual assault attorney, call the offices of Hassett & Associates at 954-791-3939.