Bradenton Man Convicted Of Sexual Battery Of Child

BRADENTON, FL — A 29-year-old Bradenton man who fled to Mexico and Honduras after confessing to his wife that he was having sex with a 12-year-old girl who lived with them, was sentenced to life in prison and designated a sexual predator.

Wilfredo Erazo-Turcios will celebrate his 30th birthday behind bars in October after being convicted by a Manatee County jury of two counts of sexual battery upon a child between 12 and 18 years of age by a person in familial or custodial authority.

"The victim had known the defendant since she was approximately 6-years-old," explained State Attorney Ed Brodsky's office in a statement following this week's verdict. "The defendant lived in the house with the victim and her family since she was 10-years-old."

Prosecutors said the crimes occurred between Aug. 9, 2015 and Dec. 11, 2015. The case was investigated by the Bradenton Police Department.

The jury deliberated only about an hour before returning the guilty verdict on Tuesday, according to Brodsky's office.

"Detectives with the Bradenton Police Department made continuing efforts to locate the defendant, however, they discovered that he had left the country and was unable to be apprehended," the state attorney's office said. "During trial, the victim testified that she did not tell anyone about the continuing sexual abuse as the defendant had told her that if she did, her mother would die."

Prosecutors said Erazo-Turcios was arrested in September of 2017 when Bradenton police detectives received a tip that he was back in the United States working in Sarasota County.

"After being read his Miranda rights, the defendant agreed to speak to law enforcement and confessed to the sexual abuse of the child," Brodsky's office said. "The defendant also confessed that he fled to Mexico and Honduras once he was aware that the police were being called."