Eladio Valdes Gortes,79, of Cape Coral, was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison, followed by Sexual Offender Probation for life, for Lewd or Lascivious Molestation. He was also designated a Sexual Predator. Gortes was found guilty in February following a two-day trial in Lee County.
In February 2019, the Cape Coral Police Department was contacted about a sex crime that occurred to a child, with the child being inappropriately touched, and opened an investigation. Their work led to the identification of Gortes and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Service Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force assisted in apprehending the defendant.
Assistant State Attorney Michael Curley, of the State Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office