FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Lyft driver accused of sexual battery on a minor in Davie was back in court Thursday after being transferred to Broward County.
Julio Perez, 43, listened to the judge through an interpreter as the judge read off his charges.
Perez, who was arrested in Hialeah, is accused of picking up a 16-year-old boy from school and driving the teen to his home in Davie.
Police said he returned to the teen's home, talked his way inside and then forced the teen to perform oral sex on him.
Detectives said Perez confessed to the crime and believed the boy was 12 years old.
"He's a citizen of Miami-Dade County," Perez's defense attorney said. "He does work. He's got a wife. He's got kids. I don't believe he has criminal history."
A prosecutor told the judge that if bond is set, Perez shouldn't be allowed to be a driver for any company.
"He came into contact with the alleged victim solely because of his employment as a Lyft driver," the prosecutor said. "We would be requesting no employment providing transportation to anyone."
In the end, the judge would agree to the term, ordering that Perez be held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
He will be placed on house arrest if he posts bail. He is also not allowed to have any contact with minors, including the victim.