Racy video leads to felony charges for two St. Johns County men; warrant out for third suspect in Jacksonville

Police have arrested two men and are seeking one more on child exploitation charges after a sexual video surfaced that had been used to promote a rap song. Two St. Johns County men, ages 18 and 19, are facing felony charges and there is a warrant out for a 21-year-old Jacksonville man, according to a report in the Florida Times-Union. St. Johns County school officials alerted police after they learned the video had been posted on Facebook, the newspaper reported.

One man is charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a child between the ages of 12 and 16, along with the use of a child in a sexual performance. Both charges are second-degree felonies with a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, so the man is facing up to 30 years behind bars. A second defendant is charged with promoting a sexual performance by a child – another second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. All three of these St .Johns County Sex Crimes charges are very serious, and could lead to the men being classified as sex offenders, if they plead guilty to or are convicted of these charges.

More than any other types of criminal charges, St. Johns County Sex Crimes charges stick with a person long after he or she has done their time in jail or prison. Part of the punishment for sex crimes – particularly those involving children – is that the person register as a sex offender. That includes checking in with police at least twice a year – though it can be more frequent depending on the charge. Being a registered sexual offender also means that whenever the person moves, neighbors in the surrounding area are notified that a sex offender has just moved in. That notification includes the person’s name, address and the charge that made them a sex offender.

In this St. Johns County Sex Crimes Case, few details of the video have been released and more of the story will be developed once it is clear what the third person will be charged with. So far, it is clear one man is charged with taking part in the sex act and another is only accused of using the video. While the charges are both second-degree felonies in terms of the statutes, prosecutors and the judge are likely to see the two very differently when it comes to addressing the charges in this St. Johns County Sex Crimes Case. There are major lasting consequences for pleading guilty in St. Johns County Sex Crimes Cases, and our St. Johns County Criminal Defense Attorney can explain all of them to you or your loved one so you can make an informed decision.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our St. Johns County Sex Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.