Miami psychologist convicted of sex crimes involving 15-year-old girl
A jury found South Florida psychologist Maria Duarte guilty of sexual misconduct involving a teenager she met outside a Miami hotel in 2024.
South Florida psychologist convicted after teen sex and drugs case at Miami hotel
A South Florida psychologist has been convicted of crimes involving inappropriate sexual conduct with a 15-year-old girl, nbcmiami.com reports. Maria Duarte, who had been on house arrest while awaiting trial, was remanded to jail immediately after the verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for January, with Duarte facing up to 15 years in prison.
The case dates to August 2024, when the teenager was walking her dog near an Aloft hotel in Miami. According to police, Duarte approached the girl and struck up a friendship with her.
Prosecutors told jurors the girl was experiencing serious difficulties at home and came to see Duarte as a trusted figure. "She felt like she wasn't alone, that someone cared about her," prosecutor Justin Funck said during the trial. "Somebody who was going to help her put on clothes and do her makeup and do her hair."
Funck alleged that Duarte used her professional background in psychology to manipulate the teenager into having sex with other men, including Duarte's boyfriend, Jason Mojica. "The defendant used that 15-year-old girl to lure men to the hotel where they had sex and did drugs," Funck told jurors.
Mojica pleaded guilty to having sex with the minor and testified against Duarte at trial. As part of his plea deal, he was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by probation. A second man, Hermes Mejia, also pleaded guilty in connection with the case and testified against Duarte.
The jury acquitted Duarte on the most serious charge of human trafficking but convicted her on counts related to having sex in front of the girl and encouraging the teenager to engage in sexual activity with other men.
Her defence attorney, Robert Barrar, contested both the prosecution's case and the credibility of the teenager's account. "Whatever happened at that hotel was not a result of Maria doing anything with the child, this young lady, other than giving her a shoulder to cry on," Barrar said.
Judge Ellen Sue Venzer ordered Duarte back into custody following the verdict. Florida records show her professional licence has also been suspended.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)