Cape Coral child predator sentenced to 25 years in prison

Writer: Joey Pellegrino
Published:
Eladio Valdes-Gortes. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office

A Cape Coral man was sentenced on Tuesday to 25 years in prison for inappropriately touching a child younger than 12 in 2019.

Eladio Valdes Gortes, 79, received a sentence of 25 years in prison followed by sexual offender probation for life after being adjudicated guilty of the charge of 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 was committed toward 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 him.

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