Florida Psychologist Arrested, Accused Of Trafficking Teen Girl
Published Aug 21, 2024 at 1:45 PM EDT
By Jasmine Laws
A Florida psychologist has been arrested on human trafficking charges after police reported she groomed a 15-year-old girl and tried to pressure her into having sex with at least two men.
Maria Ximena Duarte, a 45-year-old psychologist from North Miami, appeared in court on Monday after being arrested on Sunday, according to Local 10.
She was wearing a suicide prevention vest in court and seen visibly crying in her mugshot, per the outlet.
The Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer said the accusations were “terrible,” while Duarte responded, “I’m a psychologist, I’m a PhD. I will lose my license and my life. I need help. I’ve never even touched that girl or kissed her.”
The arrest report alleges that the psychologist met the girl last Tuesday at the pool of the Aloft Miami Dadeland hotel while the girl was walking her dog, and was quickly able to gain her trust by saying she was a psychologist, Local 10 reports.
Per the outlet, the report states, “The victim grew comfortable with (Duarte) and confided in her about issues in her personal life and was told that they had shared life experiences.”
Police allege that the psychologist offered the underage girl marijuana and alcohol bought from the hotel’s bar, but she declined. She is then accused of telling the girl to “come back to her hotel room later that night.”
Authorities say the girl went to Duarte’s room the next day, and the psychologist then allegedly took pictures of her and sent them to a man named Pablo, saying the teen was 21 and willing to have sex with him. The girl reportedly said she was not willing to engage in such a thing, yet Duarte continued to insist, the report alleges.
Duarte’s boyfriend, named Jason, reportedly arrived at the scene and she began to leave the room, despite the girl’s objections to being left alone with the man.
Duarte is accused of pushing the girl back inside, telling her to “stay and make Jason feel good,” as she closed the door.
Authorities say the girl went to the bathroom and after some time, came back out to find Jason having exposed himself while inviting her to have sex with him. After she declined, he forced her to perform a sex act, police say.
The girl reported the incident the next day.
Per Local 10, investigators wrote the girl said Duarte “would exchange sex for drugs to satisfy her drug addictions.” Police said that when they found Duarte at the hotel on Sunday upon her arrest, she appeared to be under the influence of drugs.
In court, she was charged with human trafficking, lewd and lascivious exhibition on a child under 16, lewd and lascivious battery, and interference with custody.
She has been ordered to remain held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, without bond, pending another court appearance, according to Local 10. She was also ordered to make no contact with and stay away from the teenage girl.