Man Accused of Performing Sex Act on Webcam for 14-Year-Old Girl

Whittel & Melton, LLC 352-369-5334 – Florida Sex Crimes Attorneys

A 48-year-old Belleview man was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition after allegedly performing a sex act in front of a webcam for what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

According to reports, Sheriff’s detectives received information from Brevard County authorities that the man performed a sex act on himself in front of a webcam on two separate occasions.

Police went to the man’s home and apparently questioned the man about the allegations. The man allegedly admitted to committing the acts in front of the webcam and apparently shared he had been arrested for a similar offense in Orange County.

He was placed under arrest and taken to the Marion County Jail.

Lewd and lascivious exhibition is a sex crime offense that essentially involves performing certain sexual acts in the presence of minors. Intentional masturbation, indecent exposure and any other type of sexual act that is considered wicked or licentious performed in front of a minor all fall under the crime of lewd and lascivious exhibition. While these acts do not actually involve physical or sexual contact between adults and children, the consequences associated with these charges can be severe. When the offender is over the age of 18, lewd and lascivious exhibition is classified as a second-degree felony carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

Under a separate Florida statute, it is illegal for a person to transmit lewd and lascivious exhibitions via a computer, which includes a webcam. It is a second-degree felony for anyone over the age of 18 to intentionally masturbate, expose themselves or perform any other sexual act live over the Internet when it is known that a child younger than 16 may be watching.

The Florida Sex Crimes Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can identify any mitigating circumstances that may be prevalent in your case and apply them to your defense strategy. By contacting us as soon as possible, we can help minimize the penalties associated with a lewd and lascivious exhibition charge. If you have already confessed to police, we can work towards locating ways to get your confession thrown out.

If you or someone you love has been accused of lewd and lascivious exhibition in the Ocala area or elsewhere in the state of Florida, contact the Florida Sex Crimes Lawyers at Whittel & Melton online or reach us by calling our Marion County office at 352-369-5334. You can reach us statewide and toll-free by dialing 866-608-5529.