18-year-old accuser says he gave her alcohol, made unwanted advances
Osceola County School Board member Julius Melendez is facing a pair of misdemeanor charges in connection with allegations from July that he served an 18-year-old alcohol, and made unwanted advances toward her.
The charges stem from accusations made by the woman, which were posted to Facebook in July.
Per the Osceola County Clerk’s records, charges of battery and serving alcohol to a person under age 21 were filed Friday by the State Attorney’s Office, and a summons was issued. An arraignment hearing, when a defendant is formally advised of the charges filed by the State, is scheduled for Nov. 6 at 8:30 a.m.
Thursday afternoon, Melendez's attorney Migdalia Perez released a statement noting, "It is important that citizens are not misinformed due to salacious media headlines and false allegations leveled against our client."
"Mr. Melendez is a member of your Osceola County School Board, and has been falsely accused by a woman, not a minor. These allegations are patently false and damaging to his long reputation as a leader in this community. We look forward to challenging these falsehoods through the legal process and are confident the truth will prevail."
Melendez represents district 2 on the School Board. That seat will be up for election in 2024; Melendez has yet to file for re-election.
The victim was not an Osceola school district student and, according to an Osceola County Sheriff's Office charging affidavit obtained by the News-Gazette Thursday, lives in Nebraska and was in town staying with her sister. On July 19 the victim posted a narrative to social media, telling that, on June 29, Melendez picked her up from the home where she was staying with her stepdad, who she called “an abusive alcoholic”, and offered to let her stay at his home.
On the way there they stopped at Susana’s Café, which Melendez co-managed and where she worked as a server, so she could check her schedule for the next day. While there, she alleged he offered her an "alcoholic Mimosa" from a personal fridge not accessible to employees, and she drank three. He also brought alcoholic beverages from the cafe back to his house, where he, “Kept filling my glass insisting me to drink it.” Later, she alleged Melendez touched her thigh tattoo and, despite her telling him not to, kissed her.
The affidavit also states that, in a conversation with a cafe co-owner the following day, Melendez said he, "Wasn't sure what to do as he felt that nothing was wrong and he didn't do anything illegal."
This information is corroborated in the charging affidavit, through a July 2 interview with the victim. At the time she did not wish to prosecute, but three days later she advised she "Did not want anyone to feel like (she) did that night, nor go through what she did," and stated she then wanted to prosecute.
Melendez no longer works at or for the café, and a representative from it last week said it is trying to distance itself from Melendez.
A School District official said it received a complaint stating this information, and forwarded it on to the Sheriff’s Office, who passed it on to the Ninth District State Attorney’s Office. When the News-Gazette asked for a copy of it in July through a public records request, the Sheriff’s Office noted that since the state had not acted on it at that time, the document was exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.
A School District representative declined to comment this week, noting this is a law enforcement matter. The School Board meets again on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
This is a developing story. Check back at AroundOsceola.com for updates.
