LAKE COUNTY, FLA. – A judge Wednesday sentenced a man to life in prison for human trafficking of a child under the age of 18.
Circuit Judge Cary Rada also sentenced Jose Gomez to 25 years in prison on three charges of lewd and lascivious charges of a child.
Eustis police arrested the 30-year-old when called to the 200 block of North Prescott Street. When they arrived, they saw the girl walking down the sidewalk crying.
“When asked what was wrong, the female advised a male … was trying to shoot her,” the probable cause affidavit stated.
She said she went to Gomez’s apartment and performed an oral sex act, but he then pinned her down and raped her. She said he appeared to be taking drugs and at one point put a handgun on a table. She fought back, scratching him. When he got up, she picked up the gun and threw it off the balcony, grabbed his cell phone and called 911 and made her get away.
Gomez barricaded himself in the apartment, refusing to come out until a sheriff’s K9 bit him.
Gomez told police he was approached by a man who offered to set up the sexual encounter and gave the man two $50 bills.
Assistant State Attorney Gabe Lozano said if police find the pimp, he could also possibly be charged with human trafficking.
Anyone with information about the case can call Crimeline anonymously for a reward at 1-800-423-TIPS.