James H. Edwards III, a Miami-Dade Police sergeant and 27-year veteran of the force, now finds himself behind bars. Edwards allegedly provided a 15-year-old boy with booze and drugs, groped the boy, and then masturbated in front of him. He now faces charges of lewd and lascivious conduct and exhibition.
According to the Miami Herald, Edwards was booked into jail this morning but has already been granted an $85,000 bond. He'll be under house arrest and forbidden from accessing the internet or having any contact with minors. In an odd twist, both the judge and prosecutor during Edwards' appearance in bond court this morning admitted they knew the officer.
Edwards apparently picked up the boy earlier this month to do lawn work at his home. According to Local 10, the sergeant knew the boy's mother. However, instead of having the boy do yard work, Edwards allegedly gave him whiskey, pot, and molly. Edwards himself also took molly, prosecutors say.
The pair watched porn online, and Edwards began touching the boy. He requested oral sex, but the boy refused. Instead, Edwards masturbated in front of the young teen.
The victim reported the crime, and police detectives monitored a phone call between Edwards and the teen in which the sergeant admitted the crimes.
If that wasn't enough, Edwards was also arrested for giving drugs and showing pornography to the victim's 16-year-old brother.
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