A Florida police officer has been arrested after allegedly hosting a party involving drugs, alcohol and sex with four teenage girls.
Marcanthony Fernandez, 24, was charged Tuesday with four felony counts and six misdemeanors for inappropriate conduct that allegedly occurred the weekend of Feb. 3. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Police say the incident in question involved two 18-year-old girls and one boy, ages 17 and 16.
He is believed to have met at least one girl on social media, who may have introduced him to other girls. Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference..
Fernandez is accused of taking multiple Snapchat videos of one of the 18-year-old girls wearing a police-issued jacket and a 17-year-old girl engaging in sex acts with the older girl at Fernandez’s request.
Authorities said some of the videos showed Fernandez and the victims naked inside a Lake Wales home.
Investigators said Fernandez also provided the four teens with THC gummies, e-cigarettes and alcohol.
Mr Judd said the defendant told the teenagers that being choked sexually aroused him.
The sheriff’s office told reporters that Fernandez choked the 18-year-old girl until she passed out, then grabbed the 17-year-old girl by the neck, frightening her.
Fernandez is also accused of taking a 16-year-old girl into his bedroom, where he groped and choked her.
Fernandez shared the video of the incident with fellow officers at the Bartow Police Department, who reported it to their superiors.
The case was eventually transferred to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
“We know that Fernandez brought the girls to his Lake Wells home, gave them mind-altering drugs and then attempted to engage in various sexual acts,” Judd said of Fernandez’s actions.
Authorities said Fernandez was hired by the Bartow Police Department in September 2020. He worked briefly with the sheriff’s office in October 2021 but returned to the Bartow Police Department by December of the following year.
He has been on paid administrative leave since February, and his employment is now expected to be terminated, although he has refused to resign.
“This guy is a bad guy,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “He cheated the system to get in, and then he acted like a fool and he got arrested, and I’m glad for that.”
Bartow Police Deputy Chief Steven Walker said Fernandez’s actions were “very unfortunate.”
“We do thorough background checks, psychological testing and try to select the right candidates, but of course we’re not perfect and people change,” he lamented.
“You play silly games and win silly prizes,” Judd added.
Fernandez was booked into the Polk County Jail on suspicion of soliciting a minor for sexual performance, exploiting a minor for sexual performance, assault by strangulation and numerous other offenses.
No bail has been offered for him.
