WEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) — Students returned to class, Thursday, following the news of an arrest and crimes against their classmates.
An 18-year-old has been charged as an adult after he allegedly blackmailed three classmates for sexual favors on a messaging app.
Eighteen-year-old Terry Fenelon, a student at Homestead Senior High School, has been accused of victimizing three younger classmates on a messaging app between November 2015 and January 2016, according to authorities.
As she read through the pages of Fenelon’s alleged crimes, the Miami-Dade judge at his bond hearing on Wednesday seemed appalled. "Bondable? He’s a predator on these kids from the school," said the judge. "I’m ordering that you stay away from the victims, the alleged victims."
Fenelon was charged with sexual battery and extortion and was taken into custody.
Parents at the school were shocked as they learned about the alleged crime. "Very upsetting," said concerned parent Enid Danzot. "Oh, my God, it’s crazy."
According to officials, Fenelon used the name "DRE" on the messaging app KIK to request 15 and 16-year-olds for nude pictures. When he was denied, Fenelon threatened to harm at least three victims’ families and convinced them that he already acquired other nude photos he had of them, as well as their current location. Spooking the teenage victims, they agreed and sent him nude photos. "Nothing good comes from social media," said a classmate.
Court documents state that the threats escalated quickly. One of the documents reads, "’DRE’ began to make additional threats toward her family, and even described where her 6-year-old niece gets off the school bus, and stated that if victim No. 1 wished to see her again, she will comply with his demands."
He also used threats to demand oral sex from the victims. According to court documents, "Out of complete fear, victim No. 2 reluctantly agreed to his demands, and met Terry outside of a door on the back side of the school. Victim No. 2 stated that the sex was against her will."
Officials are fearful of this new avenue of sexual assault. "What we’re looking at here is just a new form of what rapists and sexual predators do these days," said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. "Using technology to manipulate, control and in these cases, have coerced sexual relations. That’s rape."
A Miami-Dade Public Schools spokesperson sent a statement to 7News that read: "The details of this case are extremely disturbing. Although social media has many positive uses, this incident serves as a good reminder that parents need to monitor their children’s social media activity and warn them of the negative consequences when it is improperly used. We will continue to teach our students about the rights and responsibilities of digital citizenship, because their safety, security and well-being continue to be the school district’s highest concern."
7News spoke with parents that said the whole ordeal was very disturbing. "It’s not like back when we were in school," said parent Nancy Martinez. "Yes, it does frighten me."
Fenelon will remain in jail as investigators continue to look for additional victims he may have targeted. The State Attorney’s Office has put up a phone line where people can call anonymously about this or any other similar case. That number is 305-547-3300.