Key West Injury Lawyer Blog
The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty for a Florida Keys man police accused of filming himself raping a child multiple times, according to reporting from the Miami Herald.
Micheal John Demerjian, 36, of Big Pine Key, in the Lower Keys, was in custody on unrelated charges on Jan. 17 when his phone was found by someone who purchased his car. On the phone, over 70 images and videos of the child, who is under 12 years old, were found. The images were reported to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
The Key West Injury Lawyer Blog will not be publishing the age of the child or Demerjian’s connection to the minor to protect their identity.
Demerjian was indicted by a grand jury in February on charges related to the abuse. Members of the jury and the detectives giving testimony were reduced to tears due to the descriptions of the horrific images, the Herald reported Tuesday. He had already been in custody at the jail since November on charges related to an incident in which he was accused of duping a woman out of $4,800 after advertising a house for rent with an address that does not exist. The woman claimed that he cut off all contact with her after she sent him the money.
In addition to charges related to the abuse, possessing child sex abuse material, and the rental incident, Demerjian faces drug and driving under the influence charges, according to jail records.
As of 2023, sexually abusing a child under 12 years old is a capital offense.
Leesfield & Partners
The above atrocities are every parent’s worst nightmare and, sadly, are all too common. Predators lurk in plain sight and do not always take the shape of who you’d expect. Research shows that the majority of child sex abuse cases involve perpetrators who knew the child and their family prior to the abuse taking place. These individuals can include teachers, camp counselors, coaches, family members and other caretakers. Leesfield & Partners recognizes that while no monetary amount can erase the damage that has been done or make up for the lifelong trauma that has been endured by victims and survivors, the acknowledgment of these victims’ pain can be one step forward in the healing process.
Personal injury cases of this type are always sensitive and can involve victims and survivors being forced to relive memories they would rather forget. That is why our attorneys handle each case with the dignity and sensitivity they require while also aggressively pursuing justice for our clients and the best, possible outcome in their cases. In 48 years of personal injury law, Leesfield & Partners has successfully handled numerous sexual assaults, negligent security and abuse cases on behalf of adults and children alike and has become a trusted source of legal representation for victims and survivors seeking justice.
Previously, Partner Justin B. Shapiro secured a $16 million recovery for a couple after they were attacked at a South Miami hotel. The wife in that case was brutally beaten, raped and sexually assaulted by a man who was not a guest. This man could enter the hotel and travel to their floor uninhibited. As the attack unfolded, both security and hotel employees watched without intervening.
This horrific attack took place at a hotel with a known history of violence including shootings, robberies and assaults. Hotel officials were advised by security and police to hire armed guards to prevent and deter criminal activity. These officials negligently ignored this advice to save money, putting employees and guests at risk.
Supporting Victims and Survivors
Through The Leesfield Family Foundation, Leesfield & Partners has consistently supported organizations dedicated to providing essential services to victims and survivors of sexual abuse. The Foundation, which was started by Ira Leesfield, the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, his wife, Cynthia, and daughter, Jennifer, primarily focuses on women’s and children’s issues. Through Mr. Leesfield’s decades of personal injury law, he has seen the positive impact that many of these organizations have had on the lives of those who have experienced sexual abuse.
Some of the organizations supported by The Foundation include Voices for Children, Lawyers for Children America, Kristi House, The Fatherhood Task Force, Amigos for Kids, and The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment.
Previous Cases
Recently, Leesfield & Partners handled a confidential case on behalf of four adults who were sexually abused as children by a clergyman at their parochial elementary and middle schools.
The firm also represented a minor who was abused by a camp counselor at a popular Florida summer camp. Officials at this overnight camp negligently ignored the obvious warning signs, failing the children they were tasked with protecting.
Leesfield & Partners obtained an $8.6 million recovery in that case.
In a similar case against a well-known Florida high school, Leesfield & Partners obtained several multi-million-dollar reparations for students who were repeatedly abused by a teacher. The school was required to pay several reparations.
The firm previously represented a child who was flying with an airline as an unaccompanied minor. During the flight, a passenger sexually abused the child who was meant to be under the watch of flight attendants who negligently allowed the child to go unsupervised.
Leesfield & Partners obtained a confidential settlement.
Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Attorney at the firm, is representing a client who was unknowingly being filmed in her private cabin while traveling on a cruise ship. The camera in that case was planted by an employee with access to multiple cabins on the ship. He planted a camera in multiple rooms, filming travelers that ranged in age from minors to adults.
That employee was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
Currently, the cruise line is attempting to force our client into arbitration to skirt their liability. That case is ongoing.
If you or a loved one has been affected by sexual assault, help can be found by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
If you or a loved one has been affected by sexual assault and are interested in making a claim, don’t wait. Call a Leesfield & Partners attorney today for a free consultation at 305-854-4900.
