Miami Criminal Lawyers Blog

Broward- Jonathan Bleiweiss, 29, an award winning deputy
for the Broward Sheriff's Department, was arrested and charged
with 14 counts of false imprisonment, stalking and sexual assault.  An investigation into the allegations by the Broward Sheriff's Office sex crimes unit began in April when the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department was contacted by an attorney for two of the victims. 

In a statement made by Detective Graciela Benito "it is thought that Bleiweiss who is a seven year veteran has been assaulting victims since August of 2008."  The alleged victims are all undocumented immigrants that speak limited English and fluctuate in ages from 17-30. They come from either El Salvador or Mexico.  Countries where they harbor a fear of law enforcement, which made it easy for Bleiweiss to intimidate his victims.

Bleiweiss while in uniform and on patrol would pull his victims over in a fictitious traffic stop or he would move towards a victim while they awaited transportation from work. "He knew where these men worked and lived, and he followed them for some time before actually carrying out his plan" investigators said.  After interviewing residents at one apartment complex by the Broward Sheriff's Department it had been established that there was a coinciding pattern:  On multi-various occasions, Bleiweiss stopped his victim requested identification, and after determination that the victim was undocumented he would sexually abuse him.

Prior to being hired for the Broward Sheriff's Department, Bleiweiss had passed a series of exams and screenings to include a psychological screening and a polygraph test according to documentation filed by the human resources office.

Police officers are believed to protect and serve.   Policing inadequacies are going to eventuate, where mistakes will be made regardless of the training involved and the procedures that are in place.   However, there are a few police officers that will breach their code of conduct in formidable ways. 

Serious charges require a serious defense attorney.  Here at Musca Law we defend those that have been charged with an array of sex crimes to include; sexual assault, sexual battery, child sexual abuse and molestation.   Conviction of a sex crime is only the beginning of a severe drawn out process.   Being characterized as a "sex offender", will present a prison sentence, a lifetime registration on the sex offender registry, and repeated character assassinations.  If you are a policing agent that is being charged the stakes are even higher as you are no longer a protector but a predator.  You will be experiencing the criminal justice system from the other end, where it is vital to retain a criminal defense attorney who can contravene law enforcement and tenacious prosecution strategies.

Musca Law provides its clients with staunch representation where your rights and interests will be protected throughout the criminal justice system.