Couple face up to 15 years in prison for daytime beach sex
A couple from Florida could face up to 15 years in prison for having sex on a beach.
A jury took just over 15 minutes to convict Jose Caballero, 40, and Elissa Alvarez, 20, on two counts of lewd and lascivious behaviour.
Evidence was piled up against the couple. Several witnesses, including a three-year-old girl, saw Alvarez straddle Caballero in broad daylight. A bystander also filmed the lovers' tryst.
A woman at the scene told police: “Yeah, they think it’s a joke… it’s very disgusting. He just took her top off. There’s a child here.”
The clip was also shown in the courtroom during the trial.
Assistant State Attorney Anthony Dafonseca told the Miami Herald that the couple rejected a plea bargain, despite all the damning evidence against them.
The defence argued that as no witnesses saw genitalia or penetration and the video was unclear, the conclusion that they were having sex was pure speculation.
Alvarez argued she had, in fact been, “dancing” on Caballero to wake him up.
The jury was unmoved by the explanation.
Caballero and Alvarez will have to register as sex offenders.
Alvarez's father broke down when the guilty verdict was handed down.
Prosecutors said they would pursue a harsher sentence for Caballero because he has previous convictions for cocaine trafficking.
Morning news break – May 6
