Former Palm Beach County deputy found guilty again of molesting boys
By Missy Stoddard Staff Writer Posted
August 18 2005
It was déjà vu on Wednesday for former Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy Gervasio "Julio" Torres, who was convicted of capital sexual battery for the second time in four months.
The crime carries a 25-year to life sentence.
"I'm relieved that he won't have access to children any more," Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Millien said. "I was confident the jury would believe the victim as well as the other two witnesses."
Torres, 36, once headed the sheriff's Explorer program, geared toward youth interested in law enforcement careers. In April, a jury found Torres guilty of sexual battery stemming from the 1992 molestation of a 9-year-old boy. That boy, as well as another victim, testified in the most recent case. Torres did not testify at either trial.
The victim in this case, who was not an Explorer, became acquainted with Torres through his uncle, who attended the police academy with Torres, according to Millien. The molestations occurred on multiple occasions when the boy was approximately 10 to 12 years of age, she said. Authorities located the boy, now 22, during the investigation of another case.
"He never disclosed until we found him," the prosecutor said.
Charges involving a third boy could not be filed because the statute of limitations had taken effect, according to Millien.
Defense attorney Scott Richardson, who with Jason Weiss represents Torres, said both verdicts would be appealed.
"We're very disappointed in the result," Richardson said.
Circuit Judge Lucy Chernow Brown will sentence Torres on Sept. 9. Torres has already been sentenced in the first case.
Because Florida law mandates a life sentence, with the possibility of parole after 25 years, the only unknown is whether Brown will run the terms concurrently or consecutively.
Missy Stoddard can be reached at mstoddard@sun-sentinel.com or 561-832-2895.
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