Man Assaults Girl, Then Hires Hitman to Kill Her

When a person sexually assaults someone, they may go to great lengths to avoid jail time and other penalties. In one case in Florida, a man sexually assaulted a girl and then tried to kill her, a detective, and the prosecutor in an effort to avoid prosecution.

The 24-year-old man is now facing three counts of solicitation to commit first-degree murder, in addition to several other charges, including two counts of sexual battery of a child younger than 12 and one count of use of a child in a sexual performance.

The previous charges stem from a February 2024 incident that the Altamonte Springs Police Department investigated. That was when the man allegedly catfished the child on the app Snapchat by pretending to be another girl her age. The man, under the guise of a girl, began messaging the victim, saying they thought they went to the same school. That Snapchat user told the victim she wanted help catching her boyfriend cheating. The user would pay her $70 on CashApp if she assisted. Another person with the username TMV then began messaging the victim on Snapchat.

The user, later identified as the man, obtained the victim’s address and CashApp. He showed up at an apartment complex where the girl was. The girl approached the man and discreetly took a picture of him standing next to a white pickup truck. She told police that the man pressured her into walking to a secluded area in the apartment complex. He then forced her into performing sexual acts. The man told her to give him her phone because his had died. He then used the girls’ phone to record the sex acts.

The girl told police she was afraid someone was going to find out what happened, so she deleted all the sexually explicit videos and images. However, law enforcement was able to extract videos showing the assault. Investigators later learned the man had messaged other people a similar story and had posed as a girl wanting to test her boyfriend’s loyalty. Police believe the man was controlling both accounts, as the same email address was attached to both.

The girl told police what happened about six weeks later, and it landed the man in jail. Despite being behind bars, the man still worked to hatch a plan to try to kill three of the key people involved in his case. He asked another inmate to help arrange the killings and promised he would pay the hitman with a BMW.

A confidential informant tipped off law enforcement. The hitman the man thought he hired was actually an undercover deputy with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. He gave detailed instructions and spoke in code. Investigators learned of the plot in May. They searched his jail cell and found notes containing his plans and his codes.

Contact Us Today

Assault is a serious offense under Florida law. Someone convicted of this crime can face years in prison as well as other penalties.

A Fort Myers assault attorney from Hollander & Hanuka can help you understand your legal rights. We understand the intricacies of Florida’s assault laws and are committed to securing the best possible outcome for our clients. Schedule a consultation with our office today by calling (239) 332-3300 or filling out the online form.

Source:

miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article311800572.html