Miami-Dade psychologist among two arrested for trafficking a 15-year-old girl: police
Miami-Dade officers made a breakthrough in solving the case of a teenage girl who they say was walking her dog at a hotel when a woman groomed, trafficked and coerced her to get raped by a man earlier this month. This week, police arrested a South Florida psychologist and a 46-year-old man for their alleged involvement.
Maria Ximena Duarte, a 45-year-old mental health counselor, is charged with human trafficking, lewd and lascivious exhibition on a child, lewd and lascivious battery, and interference with child custody. Jason Mojica is facing charges of sexual battery, lewd and lascivious battery or sexual activity and interference with child custody.
On August 13, Miami-Dade police said the 15-year-old was taking a stroll with her dog near a pool at the Alot Hotel, 7600 SW 88th St., when Duarte walked up to her. She befriended the girl by telling her she was a psychologist.
The child became comfortable with Duarte, sharing her life struggles, an arrest report read. During this conversation, Duarte would interrupt to offer marijuana. She would later bring alcohol which the young girl refused.
Duarte was able to coax the girl to come to her hotel room later that night after she took her dog back home. The 15-year-old stayed the night with her.
The young girl would go back and forth between her home and the hotel several times. During one of those visits, Duarte took pictures of her and told her there was a man named Pablo that she wanted her to have sex with, the report read. The 15-year-old told her she would not participate.
Despite her refusal, Pablo came to the room and raped her. The next day, Mojica, Duarte’s boyfriend, came to the hotel room. The 15-year-old tried to leave when Duarte went to leave her alone with Mojica, but Duarte pushed her back in and told her to make him “feel good.”
Mojica would proceed to rape her, the report read. After, she hid in the bathroom, checking so often to see if he had gone. Each time she came out, Mojica would ask to have sex with her again.
During her traumatic saga in the hotel room, the young girl learned Duarte would exchange sex for drugs.
Duarte proceeded to offer the teen drugs and alcohol, as well as ask her to record sexual acts. At one point, police said Duarte forced the girl to have a sexual encounter with Mojica.
Police cuffed Duarte on Sunday after an unrelated dispute at her mother’s home, where she trespassed. Mojica was already in jail on two unrelated cases.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Duarte and Mojica remained in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
This story will be updated.
This story was originally published August 21, 2024 at 5:05 PM.
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