Gripping new details have emerged in the disturbing case of a Florida psychologist accused of sex trafficking a teen girl she met at a Miami hotel.
Nearly two months after Maria Ximena Duarte, 45, was arrested on the allegations, including lewd and lascivious sex acts, exhibition on a child and interference with custody, the Florida Department of Health moved to suspend her license to practice psychology, according to the emergency order filed Monday and obtained by WPLG-TV.
"Dr. Duarte offered drugs and alcohol to victim, performed sex acts in front of victim, forced victim to watch and record the sex acts Dr. Duarte performed, and watched as her boyfriend forced victim to engage in oral sex," the FDOH stated in its findings. "Dr. Duarte's actions indicate that she lacks the good judgment and moral character necessary to be a psychologist. Therefore, Dr. Duarte's continued practice as a psychologist presents an immediate, serious danger to the health, safety and welfare of the public."
Duarte was taken into custody Aug. 18, days after she met the 15-year-old victim at the Aloft Miami Dadeland hotel while the girl was walking her dog. She allegedly "quickly gain[ed]" the victim's trust by telling her she was a psychologist, police said at the time.
The suspect's boyfriend Jason Mojica, 46, and Hermes Mejiaa, 29, were also arrested in connection with the incident.
"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," the police report read, according to the station. "During the conversation, (she) offered the victim a marijuana cigarette to smoke (and) also bought alcoholic beverages from the hotel's bar and offered them to the victim, but the victim declined."
The girl returned to Duarte's hotel room the next day and the suspect sent pictures of the victim to a man, stating she "was 21 years old and willing to have sex with him," alleged police.
The man arrived at the hotel and subsequently had sex with Duarte, who forced the teen to record the pair "while telling the victim that she was teaching her."
Duarte's boyfriend, Jason, later showed up, and she allegedly encouraged the victim to have sex with him. The girl declined.
Duarte allegedly offered to "exchange sex for drugs to satisfy her (the girl's) drug addictions" and "would continuously offer the victim marijuana in order to have her return and engage in various activities while at the hotel with (her)," police stated in the report, according to the outlet.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains held at Miami-Dade County Jail.
