A Cuban citizen, identified as Maykel Rodríguez Jr., was involved in an unprecedented robbery over the weekend in Miami, accompanied by abuse and lewd acts against his victim, which led to his arrest and could result in a lengthy prison sentence if found guilty, authorities reported.
Just before 4 a.m. on Sunday, 34-year-old Rodríguez Jr. entered the apartment of a man in the 4200 block of Northwest 11th Street, in the Flagami neighborhood, very close to his own home, and assaulted him, according to the police report cited by the channel Local 10 News.
The disturbing incident was reported by the victim to police officers who arrived at the residence after his 911 call. The man told them that that night, after accompanying some friends who had visited him to the parking lot, he returned to his apartment and went to bed, but apparently forgot to lock the door.
In the early morning hours, he woke up to find Rodríguez Jr. above him, touching his private parts over his clothes, he stated to the police. Next, his attacker exposed his genitals and urinated on him before leaving the room.
According to the police report, the victim told the officers that when Rodríguez Jr. took her clothes to leave, he said to her, “I know you.”
The description provided by the man of Rodríguez Jr. allowed the police to locate the suspect at the corner of Northwest 43rd Avenue and 11th Street. The victim positively identified the detainee, but he "refused to speak or answer questions."
Rodríguez Jr. was arrested on charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling, assault, and indecent exposure.
During his first court hearing on Monday morning, his lawyer, Peter Heller, requested that bail be granted to Rodríguez, who—according to his claims—served in the United States Air Force for five years.
But the prosecutor's office requested a motion for preventive detention without bail, pending another hearing. Prosecutor Nessa Eth argued that "the facts are quite shocking," as the accused "entered someone's room at four in the morning, assaulted him, and urinated on him."
Judge Mindy Glazer found that there was probable cause for an enhanced charge of robbery with assault or injury, and agreed to the prosecutors' request.
He warned that if Rodríguez Jr. is found guilty of robbery with aggression or bodily harm, he could face a life sentence.
Rodríguez Jr. must appear this Tuesday morning before Miami-Dade Judge Tanya Brinkley for a new hearing.
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