Florida couple guilty of having sex on beach; man looking at up to 15 years in prison
Bradenton Beach, Florida. Image from Shutterstock.
A jury took only about 15 minutes Monday to find a Florida couple guilty of having sex on Bradenton Beach last year, and a prosecutor on the case says the state will now seek time behind bars for both Jose Caballero, 40, and Elissa Alvarez, 20. Jurors saw video of the daylight encounter that witnesses testified was seen by a 3-year-old girl.
Because Caballero served time for cocaine trafficking less than three years before committing this felony, he is looking at a 15-year prison term, assistant state attorney Anthony Dafonseca said. He said less jail time is needed for Alvarez, who has no prior record, the Bradenton Herald reports.
Though Dafonseca hinted that there would be discussions with the judge about whether 15 years would be appropriate, the Herald said, Ronald Kurpiers told the newspaper the judge would have no discretion. “That’s what he’ll get,” Kurpiers said.
Both Caballero and Alvarez will also have to register as sex offenders after the lewd and lascivious exhibition convictions, Bay 9 News reports.
“We gave them a reasonable offer, what we felt was reasonable, and they decided it wasn’t something they wanted to accept responsibility for,” Dafonseca said. “Despite the video, despite all the witnesses.”
Also see:
Jonathan Turley: “Florida Couple Facing 15 Years in Jail For Tryst On Beach”
Last updated May 7 to include additional information from the Bradenton Herald.
