Qualified Help from a Fort Lauderdale Sexual Assault Attorney

In the early morning hours of June 25, a Florida man allegedly took a 15-year-old girl to his home near Fort Lauderdale, gave her drugs and sexually assaulted her. The victim is now reportedly fighting for her life at a local hospital.

According to authorities, the man met the girl at a party she threw at her mother’s home a few hours before the alleged incident took place. The event was only supposed to be open to the girl’s friends, but a party invitation she posted in a closed social media group ended up being shared with others. Unfortunately, that led to strangers showing up at the gathering. One of those strangers was an 18-year-old man from Miramar, who invited the girl and some of her friends over to his place after the party ended at approximately 1 a.m. Once there, witnesses say he gave the girl two prescription painkillers and had sex with her. He then took to Instagram to post a video of her lying naked and face down on a couch. He later posted a second video of her lying nude on her back.

Some of the girl’s friends saw the videos online and noticed that her lips were blue. They drove to the man’s house, picked her up and drove her to Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, performing CPR along the way. She was later transferred to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, where she remains in a coma. According to investigators, she suffered organ failure, internal bleeding and potential brain damage from oxygen deprivation.

Hiring a Fort Lauderdale Sexual Assault Attorney

The man was arrested on June 26 and charged with sexual assault of a minor and publishing pornography. In order to avoid conviction, he will need a Fort Lauderdale sexual assault attorney to defend him in court. Florida takes a harsh stance on sexual assault crimes, which are considered felonies. In fact, defendants convicted of committing sexual assault on a victim over the age of 12 who is physically incapacitated, as allegedly occurred in this case, can be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison. However, a Fort Lauderdale sexual assault attorney has experience defending individuals charged with such crimes and could do everything possible to protect a defendant’s future. For instance, by investigating the case and challenging witness accounts, the attorney might be able to get the charges reduced or dismissed. If you or someone you know is facing sexual assault charges, contact Hassett & Associates, P.A. at 954-791-3939 for a free consultation.