A psychologist has been convicted after she was accused of luring a younger woman to a lodge in August of 2024 and inspiring her to have intercourse with males in Miami, Florida.
Regulation enforcement mentioned the psychologist, recognized as Maria Duarte, befriended a 15-year-old woman as she was strolling her canine, NBC Miami reported Tuesday, noting the sufferer was experiencing issues at residence when she met the lady.
In response to prosecutors, Duarte manipulated the teenager and used her to lure males to a lodge the place they’d intercourse and did medication.
Two males concerned have been recognized as Jason Mojica, who was Duarte’s boyfriend, and Hermes Mejia. Each testified in opposition to Duarte in courtroom.
The Miami Herald reported:
Throughout closing arguments, prosecutor Justin Funck mentioned Duarte groomed, manipulated and took benefit of the teenager woman. Duarte, he mentioned, used her function as a psychologist to achieve the woman’s belief earlier than her luring her to a “drug-fueled occasion” at Aloft Resort, 7600 SW 88th St, on Aug. 13, 2024.
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Mojica, 48, final week pleaded responsible to sexual battery and lewd and lascivious battery expenses. He testified in opposition to Duarte and was sentenced to seven years in jail adopted by 10 years of probation.
Mejia, 32, additionally struck a cope with prosecutors. In March 2025, he pleaded responsible to a baby abuse cost and was sentenced to probation. In trade for his plea, prosecutors dropped lewd and lascivious battery and exhibition expenses, courtroom data point out.
Duarte was discovered not responsible of human trafficking, per the NBC article.
However jurors did discover her responsible of “different crimes, together with having intercourse in entrance of the woman and inspiring her to have intercourse with different males,” the outlet mentioned, noting she had been on home arrest earlier than her trial, however Choose Ellen Sue Venzer ordered she be put again in jail.
Regulation & Crime reported in 2024 that Duarte’s psychology license was suspended. The outlet’s video confirmed Duarte telling a choose “I’m a psychologist, I’m a Ph.d. I’ll lose my license and my life. I need assistance. I’ve by no means even touched that woman.”
Duarte is now dealing with as much as 15 years in jail. She has denied doing something incorrect and claimed the sufferer lied about what occurred, per NBC 6.
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