The Miami-Dade police arrested Juan Carlos Medina, a 78-year-old Cuban man, this week on charges of lewd conduct with a minor.
Although the arrest took place this Thursday, the reported events date back to mid-2024.
The delay was due to the fact that the minor did not report the incident until October, and additionally, the vehicle involved in the incident was not registered in the driver's name.
The facts
In June of last year, a 15-year-old teenager left his aunt's house and was walking home when the now-accused approached him in a gray Toyota Corolla and offered to give him a ride, according to the arrest report cited by the local press.
The official source reports that the teenager refused several times to get into the vehicle, but Medina insisted and—since it was raining—he eventually accepted the offer.
The minor told the police that after getting into the car, Medina "began to do perverted things to him," which included touching his leg and private parts.
The accused transported the minor only about four blocks because the teenager quickly asked the elderly man to let him get off.
The report details that Medina attempted to kiss the teenager, who evaded him, unbuckled their seatbelt, and exited the vehicle.
After a prolonged investigation stemming from the report, the police were able to locate the elderly man, who was identified by the alleged victim in a photographic lineup.
Juan Carlos Medina is accused of lewd and obscene conduct involving a minor under 16 years old. His bail has not yet been set.
"If you are a minor, never get into a stranger's vehicle.", warned Mike Vega, spokesperson for the Miami police, in statements to Univision.
Lascivious and obscene conduct involving a minor under 16 years of age is considered a serious charge in the U.S. due to the special legal protections granted to minors, who are regarded as particularly vulnerable and deserving of enhanced guardianship against behaviors that threaten their physical, emotional, and sexual integrity.
This type of crime not only involves a transgression of fundamental moral and social norms, but it also constitutes a direct violation of federal and state laws designed to prevent child abuse.
Penalties are usually severe, including long prison terms depending on the case, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and the potential loss of civil rights, due to the serious psychological and physical harm that the victim may suffer.
Furthermore, U.S. legislation enforces a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual offenses against minors, reflecting the public interest in punishing and preventing these acts with the utmost legal rigor.
As of the closing of this report, there are no other details regarding the case.
Filed under: