West Palm Beach has become the backdrop for a disturbing story of alleged sexual exploitation, where a man, identified as Friedrich Benitez, is accused of engaging in unlawful sexual activities with minors. According to a report from CBS12, two underage girls were approached and taken from Club Ora's parking lot to a nearby hotel by Benitez and an accomplice.
The victims were allegedly picked up in a white Tesla outside the gentlemen's club and taken to the La Quinta Inn & Suites. While one girl and the Tesla's driver initially stayed in the vehicle, the other victim followed Benitz into the hotel. There, according to the WPBPD affidavit, sexual intercourse occurred and Benitez reportedly took photos with his iPhone. CBS12 shared that a subsequent search of his phone yielded incriminating evidence in form of two photos of one of the girls.
Both of the young girls identified Benitez out of a lineup and their testimony is substantiated by hotel surveillance footage placing him at the scene. As per Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Benitez is now facing charges that include lewd or lascivious battery on a victim between 12 and 18 years old, and unlawful sexual activity with a minor, as reported by Palm Beach Mug Shots.
Benitez was booked by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office with the booking number 2025003305 on Wednesday. Despite the gravity of these charges, startlingly, the original bond for Benitez remains set at $0.00. Local authorities have yet to provide additional information on the ongoing proceedings or on the precise nature of the sexual assault charge catered towards a victim age 16-17 which Benitez also faces.
