BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A Miramar police officer who is accused of having sex with a minor last June pleaded guilty in court Wednesday to an aggravated child abuse charge.
While in court, Jose Robell Hernandez, 29, accepted the plea conditions and was sentenced by Judge Carlos Lopez, of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, to 10 years of probation and was also ordered to surrender his police certifications.
According to an arrest warrant, Hernandez, who was 28 years old at the time of the incident and engaged to be married to a woman of his same age, met a 17-year-old girl on Tinder who he began a sexual relationship with last March.
Police said the teen admitted to lying about her age to Hernandez, telling him she was 23. She later told him she was 18 years old, about to turn 19, authorities confirmed.
According to the warrant, the sexual relationship came to light by Miami Gardens police on April 13, 2023, when the victim called 911 while walking her dog because she had stumbled upon a garbage bag that she thought contained a body.
Miami Gardens police said they confirmed there was no body inside the bag and the victim appeared to be suffering from a mental health crisis.
“The victim stated, ‘I’m so confused. I’m so nervous and admitted to being off her medications, the arrest warrant stated.
According to the warrant, officers asked the teen if they could call her parents and she handed her phone to one of the officers.
Authorities said the officer then came across text messages between the teen and Hernandez, which suggested they had a sexual relationship.
According to the warrant, the teen admitted to meeting up with Hernandez three times, including at a motel in Hialeah where they had sex.
The teen later notified police that Hernandez called her from an unknown number on May 23 and asked her whether she had lied to him about her age, telling her that he was in trouble and was going to lose his job.
Although the teen never told Hernandez she was underage, Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Grieco told Local 10 News that it doesn’t matter in the eyes of the law.
“The law is what we call a ‘strict liability statute,’ which essentially states that saying they had bad information, or the younger person lied about their age, that is not a defense. The lesson learned is you can’t take someone’s age at face value,”’ Grieco said.
Hernandez didn’t have much to say to Local 10 News reporter Christina Vazquez just moments after accepting his plea deal.
“Any thoughts about accepting this plea?” asked Vazquez.
“Uh, no,” said Hernandez.
“What about giving up your police certification?” Vasquez asked.
“I would like not to talk please,” Hernandez responded.
Miramar police said that Hernandez was previously suspended without pay pending the outcome of this case.
Comprehensive Legal Support for Personal Injury Claims: Suffering a personal injury can be a traumatic and life-altering experience. At Ovadia Law Group, we specialize in providing comprehensive legal support to individuals who have been injured due to the negligence or wrongdoing of others. When you call us at 1-800-674-9396 for a free consultation, our team of experienced attorneys will listen to your story with compassion and understanding. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that personal injuries can take, and we are committed to advocating fiercely for your rights. Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident, slip and fall incident, or workplace injury, we’ll work tirelessly to pursue the compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Source: local10
