Man Faces 15 Years For Public Sex On Florida Beach, Couple Forced To Register As 'Sex Offenders'

Chris | InformationLiberation
May. 05, 2015

If you're still wondering whether the US is dystopian police state, this ought to make it clear.

A jury Monday found a couple guilty of having sex on Bradenton Beach after only 15 minutes of deliberation.

The convictions carry a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

Jose Caballero, 40, and Elissa Alvarez, 20, were charged with two counts each of lewd and lascivious behavior for having sex on a public beach on July 20, 2014.

Video played in the courtroom during the 1- 1/2-day-long trial showed Alvarez moving on top of Caballero in a sexual manner in broad daylight. Witnesses testified that a 3-year-old girl saw them.

Both Caballero and Alvarez will now have to register as sex offenders.

A sentencing date was not announced, but Assistant State Attorney Anthony Dafonseca said they will pursue a harsher sentence for Caballero than Alvarez, since Alvarez has no prior record and Caballero has been to prison for almost eight years for a cocaine trafficking conviction.

The state will ask for jail time for Alvarez and prison time for Caballero. Dafonseca said due to Caballero being out of prison less than three years before committing another felony, he's looking at serving the maximum time of 15 years.

"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."

Ronald Kurpiers, defense attorney for the couple, said his clients were "devastated," by the verdict. Though Dafonseca hinted that they'd be speaking with the judge about whether or not 15 years was appropriate for Caballero, Kurpiers said the judge would have no discretion.

"That's what he'll get," Kurpiers said.[Emphasis added]

Read the full story at the Miami Herald.

Here's a video report from local news affiliate WFLA:

Call me crazy, but I think a stern reprimanding would have sufficed. If that is too lenient, perhaps a $200 fine?

Fifteen years is a virtual death sentence, bodybuilders like this man can have heart problems, for all we know he could die before he even turns fifty-five.

Meanwhile, was the three year old who allegedly witnessed their gyrations -- the real 'victim' in this case, as we are told -- permanently scarred for life? I can't imagine a three year old even knowing, nor understanding what they just witnessed.

While their actions were tasteless, fifteen years in prison and forced registration as a sex offender is extreme overkill. It appears the prosecutors are punishing them simply for having the audacity to refuse their plea deal.