Lee Co. Man Charged with Soliciting Teen Online Recently Arrested for Filming Unsuspecting Roommate

The Florida Sex Crimes Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton have extensive experience in representing individuals accused of sexual misconduct ranging from misdemeanors to capital felony offenses. A simple sex crime accusation can result in rejection by friends, family and society. The consequences of an actual conviction can prove to be even more brutal. Sex crimes charges can be combated through the use of a skilled criminal defense lawyer, so to protect your future it is best to act without delay.

The Cape-Coral Daily Breeze is reporting that a 49-year-old Cape Coral man arrested for allegedly performing sex acts in front of a web-cam for what he thought was a 14-year-old girl is now being accused of video voyeurism on his female roommate.

The man supposedly set up a wireless web-camera in his roommate’s bedroom closet to record her in a state of undress. The man allegedly set up another camera in his bedroom to capture the woman on her walk to the bathroom.

According to Cape detectives, the man took seven videos without the woman knowing.

The man was charged with two counts of the sex offense video voyeurism after supposedly telling police he filmed the woman for his own pleasure. He was also charged with violation of parole.

On June 23, the man was charged with possession of marijuana, obscene communication with a minor via computer and using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a child. According to court documents, the State Attorney’s Office has since charged the man with an additional nine counts of possession of photographs that depict the sexual performance of a child.

Cape Coral police reportedly received a tip from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in March that an undercover officer posing as a child online made contact with the accused. The man allegedly performed lewd acts in front of his web-cam for the teen, made sexually explicit statements and asked for pictures of the teen in her bathing suit or nude.

Cape Coral officers obtained a search warrant for the man’s home and supposedly found marijuana cigarettes and marijuana that the man said was his.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, the man served eight years in prison for one count each of second-degree murder or dangerous act and possession of a firearm by a felon and was released in 2008. Prior to his arrest, the man was evidently serving eight years of supervision.

The man has court appearances scheduled in August.

Undoubtedly, the numerous sex offenses this man faces in combination with a past criminal history will play a role in how his case plays out. In addition to the regular penalties associated with a criminal conviction in Florida, a person convicted of any sexual-related felony offense faces supplementary sanctions, including designation as a sex offender, incarceration, sex offender probation and possible civil commitment for sex offenders under the Jimmy Ryce Law.

Any individual that is arrested for a sex crime or for criminal activity that is viewed as sexually motivated can be subjected to unspecified civil commitment under the Jimmy Ryce Law. This Law has been active since 1998 and was designed to allow the State Attorney to essentially try and keep a person locked away despite completing their sentence. This process can be carried out when the State contends that a person convicted of a sexually motivated crime has a mental or personality disorder that makes them unable to control their sexual urges. Oftentimes, government doctors are called upon to assess individuals and are often not entirely fair in their judgment. It is very important to have a knowledgeable sex crimes defense attorney on your side in this situation to challenge their thoughts and evaluations with other qualified medical opinions.

If you or someone you care for has been arrested for a sex crime in Lee County or throughout the state of Florida, contact the Florida Sex Crimes Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton online or call our Naples office toll-free at 866-608-5529.