On September 24, 2025, PCSO detectives, with the assistance from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 25-year-old Jahaziel Mendez of Bradenton on charges related to unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
The investigation began when a 15-year-old girl disclosed that she had engaged in sexual intercourse with Mendez, who she met through the social media app Tumblr. The suspect, known to her as “Jay,” traveled to pick her up from her residence and booked a hotel room in Davenport, where the sexual battery occurred.
Surveillance footage from the Holiday Inn in Davenport confirmed Mendez checked in on September 20 and later entered the room with the victim. The victim stated that she and Mendez had FaceTimed prior to meeting and that they met on three separate occasions. She reported sneaking out of her home each time, a plan Mendez encouraged. Illegal sexual activity occurred during the second and third meetings, and after the third encounter, Mendez instructed her to take a Plan B pill.
During a phone call between the suspect and the victim, Mendez admitted to traveling to meet the minor for sex, described the experience as enjoyable, and made light of her age, joking that he might “end up in a documentary” but that he was not thinking of her age.
Mendez was charged with lewd battery (F2), traveling to meet a minor (F2), and interference with child custody (F3). He was booked into the Manatee County Jail on the Polk County warrant and is awaiting extradition into Polk County.
“This is a prime example of why parents need to be monitoring their kids online. Predators use social media to target vulnerable kids. Then they groom and convince them to sneak out of their homes, in order to sexually batter them. We will continue to pursue and arrest anyone who exploits children.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
