‘Heinous’: Death penalty sought against two South Florida men accused of sexually abusing 6-year-old

Palm Beach County prosecutors announced Friday that they are pursuing the death penalty for two men accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl beginning when she was 6 — a rare step in a case not involving homicide.

Josue D. Mendez-Sales, 27, and Pablo N. Cobon-Mendez, 23, of West Palm Beach, were each arrested in July and are charged with two counts of sexual battery on a person less than 12 years of age. Both have pleaded not guilty.

The girl was 7 years old when she told her babysitters that Mendez-Sales and Cobon-Mendez had been sexually abusing her every day, according to a probable cause affidavit. The affidavit did not say how she knew the two men. She lived with six other people at a location that is redacted from the affidavit, and shared a bedroom with Cobon-Mendez and a person whose name is also redacted.

Go to the South Florida Sun Sentinel for the full story.

This story was originally published October 5, 2025 at 3:23 PM.