A 70-year-old Cuban national living illegally in the United States was sentenced Wednesday to six years in state prison for sexually assaulting a teenager in Flagler County.
Jose Valerio-Rodriguez pleaded guilty before Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols to unlawful sexual activity with a minor and two counts of lewd or lascivious touching of a minor. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped one count of child abuse.
Judge Nichols sentenced Valerio-Rodriguez to six years in the Florida Department of Corrections, followed by nine years of sex offender probation. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. Upon completing his sentence, the Department of Homeland Security will deport Valerio-Rodriguez to Cuba. He will likely be 75 years old at the time of his deportation.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly commented on the sentencing. “Valerio-Rodriguez is a disgusting pervert who coerced and sexually assaulted a teen through drugs and fear,” Staly said. “Valerio-Rodriguez came illegally into this country and later assault a teenager. Had he committed these crimes in his homeland of Cuba, he would have faced the death penalty and likely not given the rights he exercised in America, so instead of taking advantage of America and assaulting our citizens, he should have been thankful.”
The case began on February 17 when deputies made contact with a 16-year-old female who had previously been reported missing. After returning home, the juvenile disclosed that she had been with a homeless man named Jose in a tent behind a gas station in Palm Coast and that a sexual incident had occurred.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit took over the investigation, with Detective First Class Kathryn Gordon serving as lead investigator. Detectives contacted the Florida Department of Children and Families and arranged for an emergency forensic examination and interview with the First Coast Child Protection Team.
Through their investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Valerio-Rodriguez, who was living behind and frequenting the gas station. On March 3, Detective First Class Gordon and Sergeant Frank Gamarra obtained and served search warrants for Valerio-Rodriguez’s tent and his DNA.
Valerio-Rodriguez was initially arrested on charges of human trafficking and unlawful sexual activity with certain minors. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and held without bond.
During the investigation, detectives determined that Valerio-Rodriguez was a Cuban citizen living in the country illegally. They contacted the Department of Homeland Security, which found probable cause for deportation and issued an immigration detainer. A Flagler County detention deputy who also served as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant Service Officer served the detainer.
At the time of the initial arrest in March 2025, Sheriff Staly issued a statement about the case. “This predator was living in the country illegally and took advantage of a child,” Staly said. “He has earned himself not only a trip to the Green Roof Inn, but also a flight out of our country. The Sheriffs of the State of Florida stand united against criminal aliens. We pray the child victim receives the help she will need from this attack.”
Valerio-Rodriguez will be transferred to Department of Homeland Security custody and deported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection following the completion of his prison sentence.
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