Jurors acquitted Maria Ximena Duarte of human trafficking but found her guilty of two offenses stemming from encounters at a Miami-area hotel.
MIAMI, FL — A South Florida psychologist was convicted Tuesday of two sex-related offenses involving a 15-year-old girl after jurors rejected prosecutors’ more serious allegation that she had trafficked the teenager for sex.
Maria Ximena Duarte, 48, was found guilty of lewd and lascivious exhibition, a felony, and an unnatural and lascivious act, a misdemeanor. The jury acquitted her of human trafficking after a trial centered on events at a Miami-Dade County hotel in August 2024. Duarte, who had been on house arrest before the verdict, was ordered back into custody while awaiting sentencing.
The case began after Duarte met the teenager near the Aloft Miami Dadeland hotel in August 2024, according to police and testimony described during the trial. Authorities said Duarte introduced herself as a mental health professional and developed a relationship with the girl, who prosecutors said was experiencing difficulties at home. Prosecutors argued that Duarte gained the teenager’s confidence before involving her in encounters with adult men at the hotel.
Prosecutors told jurors that Duarte supplied or facilitated access to drugs and alcohol and encouraged the teenager to have sexual contact with men, including Duarte’s boyfriend at the time, Jason Mojica. The prosecution also said Duarte engaged in sexual conduct in the teenager’s presence. The jury’s verdict did not accept the state’s argument that Duarte’s conduct amounted to human trafficking, but jurors found her criminally responsible on the two lesser offenses.
Assistant State Attorney Justin Funck argued during the trial that Duarte took advantage of the teenager’s vulnerability. He told jurors that the girl initially believed Duarte was someone who cared about her and could help her. Prosecutors contended that Duarte then used that trust to manipulate the teenager. The defense disputed that account and challenged whether Duarte was responsible for the sexual encounters involving the girl.
Duarte’s attorney, Robert Barrar, argued that the prosecution’s evidence did not prove Duarte caused or directed what occurred at the hotel. Barrar told jurors that Duarte had provided the teenager with emotional support rather than exploiting her. Duarte has denied wrongdoing, and the jury’s acquittal on the human trafficking charge represented a significant rejection of part of the prosecution’s case.
Two men connected to the investigation, Mojica and Hermes Mejia, pleaded guilty to charges arising from the case and testified against Duarte. Mojica admitted to having sex with the minor and received a seven-year prison sentence followed by probation under his plea agreement. Mejia also pleaded guilty in connection with the case before testifying at Duarte’s trial. Their testimony became part of the state’s effort to establish what happened during the hotel encounters.
Duarte’s professional credentials also came under state scrutiny after her 2024 arrest. Florida Department of Health records identify her as a licensed psychologist and show that an emergency suspension order involving her psychologist license was filed Oct. 7, 2024. State records also show an emergency action involving her mental health counselor license. The professional actions were separate from the criminal jury verdict.
The case drew particular attention because prosecutors alleged Duarte used the trust associated with her work in mental health when developing a relationship with the teenager. The jury, however, was required to decide the criminal charges based on the evidence presented at trial rather than Duarte’s profession. Its split verdict found sufficient evidence for the lewd conduct offenses but not for the human trafficking accusation.
Judge Ellen Sue Venzer ordered Duarte jailed after the verdict rather than allowing her to remain on house arrest. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 11. The court will determine her punishment on the offenses for which she was convicted, while the human trafficking charge ended with the jury’s not-guilty verdict.
Author note: Last updated November 11, 2026.