Ex-TV Weatherman Sentenced to 56 Months in Prison for Two Teen Sex Crimes

A 43-year-old South Florida TV weatherman was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months in prison on Friday for his conviction of two teen sex crimes.

The man made the following statement to a Palm Beach County judge: “I have great remorse and regret for my actions. Not just because I was caught doing something inappropriate but just because it’s the first time I’ve had to really face my demons.”

The man was pleading for a sentence of only lifetime sex offender probation; however the judge refused to grant him his wish.

However, the judge also refused the prosecution’s request for a 10-year prison term. Instead, the judge sentenced the man to 4 years and 8 months in prison, which is significantly less than the maximum 20-year sentence he faced before the hearing, but still more than the 2 years and 10-1/2 month required minimum.

The man has spent 531 days behind bars since his arrest, so he will likely have to serve three more years in prison.

In October, the Wilton Manors man was convicted of one count of lewd or lascivious conduct and one count of computer pornography and child exploitation. The charges involved the solicitation of a former 15-year-old child from west of Boca Raton through hundreds of sexually explicit text messages in early 2011.

Then in November, the man pleaded guilty to one count of attempted battery of a child, which is a third-degree felony that is not considered a sex crime. That case involved a 17-year-old West Palm Beach teenager.

In exchange for his plea, the man’s sentence will be a prison term that runs at the same time as his sentence for the conviction for lewd and lascivious conduct and computer porn and child exploitation.

The former weekend meteorologist at WPTV-Ch. 5 for nearly eight years was forced to resign in 2006.

He testified that he met both of the teens online through personal ads on Craigslist, but thought both were at least 18.

This case shows just how much one can lose when it comes to being convicted of a sex crime. It is critical to hire a criminal defense lawyer that can remain dedicated to an aggressive line of defense from start to finish. Being convicted of any type of sex crime can significantly impact your life forever, so these charges cannot be taken lightly. From substantial time behind bars to mandatory registration as a sexual offender, you have everything to lose in these types of cases, so you must make sure you do everything in your power to protect yourself from as early on in your case as possible.

No matter what the charges are that you are facing, a Palm Beach County Sex Crimes Attorney at Whittel & Melton can develop a powerful line of defense for your unique circumstances. No two sex crimes cases are entirely the same, so you can rest assured that our tactics will be pieced together on a case-by-case basis. As former prosecutors, we have valuable insight into how the other side will build their case. This gives us a leg up when applying your defense strategy.

If you or someone you care for has been charged with a sex crime in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin and Monroe Counties, please contact a Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton for a free consultation to discuss your next move. Call us locally at 866-608-5529 or dial us statewide and toll-free at 866-608-5529.