Amilcar Morales-Aguilar of Lake Worth, Florida was arrested on Sunday for allegedly recording himself raping an 11-year-old then threatening to show the video to the child’s mother.

Morales-Aguilar, 34, was arrested on two counts of sexual battery on a victim under 12 years of age, and one count of sexual assault on a victim under 12 years of age. He is being held without the possibility of posting bond in Palm Beach County jail. Attorney information was not available.

According to the arrest report, Morales-Aguilar met the child at an unspecified church three years ago, when the child was 11 years old. He persistently asked the child to come to his home in Lake Worth. When the child finally agreed, Morales-Aguilar reportedly raped the 11-year-old and recorded it.

Morales-Aguilar purportedly texted the victim the following week, saying he would show the video to the child’s mother unless the child returned to his home. The child complied out of fear.

“Fear. The fear that this is going to be released. The fear that everyone in the school is going to see this. The fear that people in my neighborhood are going to see this,” Carol Messam-Gordon, Palm Beach County Victim Services Program Coordinator, told news sources.

Messam-Gordon encourages parents to keep an eye on their children’s electronic devices and communicate the dangers of predators.

“Predators they are hoping that you are not going to talk to anyone and that they can get away with it,” she said.

Morales-Aguilar kept the video and repeatedly raped the child over the next two years, the report said. When questioned by detectives about the allegations, he reportedly told them that the sex was consensual.

The age of consent in the state of Florida is 18. People between the ages of 16 and 17 can give consent to a partner up to the age of 23, but anyone over 24 commits a felony by engaging in sexual activity with someone under 18.

Sexual battery, which is more commonly known as rape, is one of the most serious crimes a person can be charged with for two reasons. First, the court-imposed penalties for a sexual battery conviction are severe. Second, being accused or convicted of a sex offense carries tremendous social stigma and may even lead to registration as a sex offender.

Sexual battery on a child under 12 is a capital felony and a judge is required to sentence convicted of the crime to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Florida Sexual Battery Attorney

If you or a loved one is involved in a sexual battery case, contact us to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of Florida’s most experienced sexual battery attorneys.

Source: 7.5.18 lake worth man accused of raping child recording incident.pdf