Yelier Alderete, a 40-year-old resident of Hialeah, was taken into custody on Wednesday following allegations that he secretly recorded a 13-year-old girl by placing his cell phone in the bathroom of his home.
According to a report cited by Local 10 News, the incident came to light on Tuesday night when the victim's mother contacted the Hialeah police station. She handed over a copy of a video she had discovered on the suspect's device.
The mother found the recording in mid-September while transferring about 400 photos and videos from Alderete's phone to her own device.
The footage shows the suspect placing the phone in the bathroom before the teenager entered, then returning to retrieve it afterwards. During the approximately four-minute recording, the young girl can be seen fixing her hair and using the toilet.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Due to the victim's age, detectives from the Special Victims Unit took over the investigation, locating Alderete at a Miami address and bringing him in for questioning. The suspect exercised his right to remain silent.
Alderete is facing a charge of digital voyeurism against a victim under 16 years old, in accordance with Florida Statute § 810.145. Under this statute, if the accused is 24 years or older and the victim is under 16, the crime is classified as a second-degree felony, carrying a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Local 10 News has not disclosed the exact relationship between the suspect and the victim to protect the minor's identity, though other sources have identified Alderete as the mother's romantic partner.
Broader Context of Voyeurism Cases in Miami
As of Thursday, Alderete remained in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with bail set at $15,000.
This incident is part of a series of voyeurism arrests in the Miami metropolitan area in recent years. In August, Oscar Chamizo Martín was arrested in southwest Miami-Dade for recording a Walmart employee in the store's bathroom under the same statute. In August 2024, Alexander Pérez Piloto was taken into custody in Hialeah for spying on a six-year-old girl in Little Havana, and he was also held at the Turner Guilford Knight facility.
The charges against Alderete are not a conviction; the case is still progressing through Florida's judicial system.
Details on Digital Voyeurism Charges in Florida
What is considered digital voyeurism in Florida?
Digital voyeurism in Florida involves secretly recording or photographing someone in a private setting without their consent, especially if the victim is a minor.
What are the penalties for digital voyeurism in Florida?
If the perpetrator is 24 years or older and the victim is under 16, the offense is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.