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Alfredo Javier Cedeño, a 35-year-old man residing in Miami, was arrested on October 20 for allegedly placing a GPS tracking device on his ex-partner's vehicle without her knowledge or consent.
The authorities formally accuse him of harassment and violation of privacy, in one of the first cases in the state prosecuted under the new Florida law that penalizes these actions as felonies.
According to the police report -cited by the local press- Cedeño allegedly had a romantic relationship with the victim for approximately two and a half years.
Although they had no children together, the separation did not end their interaction.
It was the victim who, weeks after the breakup, began to notice something unusual: the repeated presence of her ex-partner in multiple places she visited. This pattern of coincidences raised suspicions.
On July 19, the woman decided to inspect her vehicle and found a hidden GPS device.
In addition to the physical evidence, he provided the police with text messages in which Cedeño allegedly admitted to placing the tracker. That combination of evidence allowed investigators to make rapid progress in the case.
Charges under the new tracking law
After his arrest on October 20, Cedeño—whose nationality of origin has not been disclosed—was admitted to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK) in Miami-Dade County.
In the subsequent court hearing, a judge determined that there was probable cause to charge him with a third-degree felony, in accordance with Florida Statute 934.425, which takes effect on October 1, 2024.
This law classifies the use of tracking devices or applications in another person's vehicle without consent as a serious offense.
The penalty can reach up to five years in prison and represents a significant change in the legislation, as this type of conduct was previously considered a misdemeanor.
The aim of the legal reform is to combat harassment facilitated by modern technology, which until now operated in a legal gray area.
Additionally, another supplementary provision of the law increases the penalties—up to 15 years in prison—if it is proven that the tracker was used to commit serious crimes such as murder, kidnapping, rape, or robbery.
Protective measures imposed
During the hearing, the judge also ordered protective measures for the victim, including a restraining order that requires Cedeño to stay more than 500 feet (152 meters) away from his ex-girlfriend, her residence, her workplace, and any educational institution she attends.
According to court records, the accusation is based not only on the presence of the physical device in the car but also on direct evidence of communications between both parties, in which the accused allegedly admitted his responsibility.
A public defender was assigned to him, and a bail of $2,500 was set. As of the closing of this report, he remains in custody.
A precedent in the era of digital harassment
This case marks one of the first arrests in Miami under the new tracking law and underscores an increasingly concerning reality: the ease with which technological tools, such as inexpensive GPS devices, can be used for control and surveillance without consent.
Women's rights advocacy organizations warn that this type of technological harassment is often an initial form of gender-based violence, which, if not addressed promptly, can escalate into more serious forms of aggression.
The new legislation aims to close that legal gap by protecting privacy in a context where the boundaries between the public and the private are increasingly blurred.
For the time being, the victim has chosen not to make any public statements regarding the case or her relationship with Cedeño. The judicial process is ongoing.
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