[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 05/14/21]
LEESBURG, Florida — A 20-year-old man who told a 12-year-old girl he was 16 when he was sending “sexual in nature” Snapchat messages is facing a charge of lewd and lascivious behavior promoting a sexual act on a victim less than 16 after the girl’s mother found the messages and called police Friday.
The victim’s mother told Groveland Police she noticed a Snapchat message her daughter received from Ernesto Gomez Hernandez. She began reading the conversation and noticed they were “sexual in nature,” including asking to buy revealing photos of the girl, according to the arrest affidavit.
The girl’s mother began responding to Hernandez as if she was her daughter and Hernandez began sending photos that did not clearly show his face. He claimed to be 16 years old and asked if the young girl wanted to meet. He sent her his address located in Mascotte and the girl’s mother responded, “What if I’m 12 years old,” and Hernandez reportedly replied, “I’m still down.” Hernandez sent several other sexually explicit messages after finding out the girl’s age, according to the affidavit.
The victim told police Hernandez had contacted her through Snapchat’s “Quick Add” feature and the conversation had been going on for about two days. The arresting officer requested assistance from Mascotte Police Department and an MPD officer went to Hernandez’ home and located him. The GPD officer then went to the home and questioned Hernandez, who first said he blocked the girl after finding out she was 12.
The GPD officer asked Hernandez if he was being truthful and “presented him with facts that the conversation had continued past that point,” and Hernandez admitted he did continue the conversation after finding out the girl’s age.
Hernandez was taken into custody and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $5,000 bond.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
