Brayan Alexis Mendieta Lopez being processed for both criminal charges and potential immigration violations
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office reported Tuesday it is holding a man it suspects engaged in
inappropriate sexual conduct with a 13-year-old is in the United States illegally.
According to an OCSO statement confirmed by court records, deputies arrested 24-year-old Brayan
Alexis Mendieta Lopez, on four counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery on a victim aged 12-16, following an investigation into allegations that the suspect engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a 13-year-old victim. Detectives learned that several illegal acts between the suspect and victim occurred multiple times at a west Kissimmee residence off of Old Lake Wilson Road.
An arrest affidavit made available Wednesday detailed a sexual relationship the suspect had with the victim, whose mother was renting a room in the home from Mendieta Lopez, who after their first encounter in late February reportedly told the victim, "Not to tell anyone because he would get into big trouble."
The report said the suspect said he was aware the victim was 13-14 years old, "But (victim name redacted) is mature for her age ... he does not believe (the mother) is aware of the relationship and does not want (victim) to get in trouble."
The investigation uncovered the suspect is a Colombian national who originally entered the United States illegally and was placed on an immigration parole status in 2022. The suspect is currently being processed for both criminal charges and potential immigration violations. According to the Sheriff's Office, On March 11 the State Attorney’s Office argued Mendieta Lopez should be held in pre-trial detention until the resolution of the case. He is being held in the Osceola County Jail with no bond.
"The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to the safety of our community, and we will work closely with federal immigration authorities as this case progresses."
The announcement comes less than a week after Sheriff Marcos Lopez and a number of his staff held a town hall meeting Thursday to discuss how they implement the state’s recently-passed immigration and deportation laws. Those new laws require law enforcement to cooperate with ICE and report any undocumented immigrants they encounter.
