A Deerfield Beach man is facing serious allegations, including the sexual battery of two underage girls, with police suggesting there may be additional victims. Ternell Cartagena, 22, was taken into custody on Feb. 9, according to a CBS News report.
Cartagena, who operated under the nickname "Nuk," is currently held at Broward County Jail, facing several charges including sexual battery of a juvenile, online solicitation of a child, among other offenses. Investigations by the Coconut Creek Police Department revealed that the encounters with the minors occurred at locales such as the Promenade at Coconut Creek and a back parking lot of an apartment complex. As evidence mounted from messages and interviews with the victims, police now believe there could be more individuals who have yet to come forward, Coconut Creek police spokesman Scotty Leamon told Local 10.
The sequence of events leading to the arrest unfolded when parents of one of the victims found text messages on an iPad linked to their daughter's iPhone, revealing communications with Cartagena that contained explicit content and evidence of sexual encounters. Another victim's mother, upon finding similar exchanges on her daughter's device, alerted the police, which led to the discovery of a broader pattern of behavior.
"Just the way this guy operated and what he did, it leads us to believe there could be more victims out there that we would like to find," Leamon elaborated. Among the accusations are that Cartagena picked up the girls, took them to secluded areas, and performed sexual acts with them. In one case, the suspect is alleged to have taken one girl to a different location where they had sexual intercourse, with comments from Cartagena indicating intentions to facilitate encounters involving multiple adults, in exchange for nicotine and weed.
Authorities are now urging anyone with additional information or awareness of further victims to reach out to the Coconut Creek Police Department or Broward Crime Stoppers by calling (954) 493-TIPS. Cartagena remains detained without bond as the investigation continues to search for any other potential victims tied to these incidents.
