A 75-year-old Florida man whom authorities called a “sexual psychopath” was arrested this week for allegedly luring at least one child into his house using puppies so he could grope her and expose himself.
Alberto Nunez-Arias was taken into custody on Wednesday on one count of lewd and lascivious exhibition, records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Authorities said they seized 26 animals from the man’s home, with more to come, including dogs with puppies, cats with kittens, and several chickens. The animals were placed in the custody of the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast for the duration of the investigation.
Alberto Nunez-Arias and several of the animals seized from his home (Martin County Sheriff’s Office); Alberto Nunez-Arias’s home (WPTV)
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 15 received a statement from the victim’s teacher in which the victim detailed the alleged incident with Nunez-Arias that took place about a year earlier, in August 2022.
The victim said her dog — which her family had gotten from Nunez-Arias — escaped from her house. While looking for the dog, Nunez-Arias allegedly told her the animal was in his home.
When she went inside to get her dog, she said Nunez-Arias “closed the door” and “touched her all over her body.”
In an interview with police, the victim said Nunez-Arias also kissed her on the cheek before she pushed him away and said, “No.”
“The victim said he gave her the dog, and when they got to his living room, he pulled down his pants and showed her ‘his disgusting body part’ and told her to touch it,” police wrote in the affidavit. The victim said Nunez-Arias told her he was lonely.”
The victim said she was able to get out of the house when she heard her mother calling her name, but claimed Nunez-Arias told her “that if she told her parents or anyone about what he did to her that he would kill her and her family.”
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Authorities said the victim has been “very afraid” of men since the incident and is scared to be alone because Nunez-Aries might “come for her,” as he made it clear that he knew where she lived.
“For the last year, she’s been carrying this burden in her mind of having a neighbor who had made sexual advances on her and was potentially doing that to other neighbors,” Martin County Chief Deputy John Budensiek said in a news conference on the case. “There’s not enough adjectives to describe his level of despicable behavior.”
Budensiek described Nunez-Arias as a “psychopathic pervert” and said investigators believe there were likely more victims during Nunez-Arias’ time living in the area.
“An absolute pervert is the only word I can come to. Not just a pervert, just a psychopathic pervert, somebody that would lure kids in and use animals to advance their own sexual appetite. He’s been in the neighborhood for 14 years. There could be victims who are adults now,” Budensiek said. “So, regardless of the age, we want to talk to you if you’re out there and vet this out and bring more charges and bring justice.”
In an interview with detectives, Nunez-Arias allegedly told police that he did not remember the incident but conceded “maybe he was drunk” and “the pants just fell down.”
Nunez-Arias is being held in Martin County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bond.
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