‘A very dangerous person’: Sex offender tried to kidnap girl, exposed himself to kids, Polk County sheriff says
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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) — The community is credited with cracking the case of a “serial sex offender” accused of preying on women and children in Winter Haven.
Early Friday morning, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) announced that it arrested a registered sex offender from Brevard County who was “lurking around” the area and exposing to himself to multiple victims.
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The suspect, Robert Miranda, 42, of Titusville is a registered sex offender and “a very dangerous person,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a news conference.
“He has a pedigree in being a sexual offender, a deviant,” Judd said. “And it’s just by the grace of God that we don’t have any sexually abused or dead children, that we know of.”
On Feb. 16, Miranda was accused of pulling his car up to two women and touching his genitals in front of them while wearing a mask. He sped away when they yelled him, according to Judd, and the women noticed the car was missing a license plate.
He was accused of doing the same thing to two other women in an incident that was caught on camera, PCSO said.
Two other incidents happened a week later, Judd said. Miranda was accused of driving up to a 9-year-old girl waiting for the school bus on Feb. 23 and attempting to kidnap her. He was wearing mask, according to PCSO, and asked her if she was missing a dog because he had one is his car.
“Recognizing that he was trying to get her in the car, she ran to an adult and reported it,” a release from the sheriff’s office said. “The man drove away, and the child noticed that the vehicle did not have a tag on it.”
Just minutes later, Miranda was accused of touching himself in front of a 12-year-old boy. He tried to take a picture of the driver, but Miranda sped away. Judd said both children gave the same description of the driver and vehicle.
The sheriff’s office knew a man in a Mitsubishi Outlander was targeting children, but without a tag, they had no leads. PCSO turned to Winter Haven business owners, who provided security footage showing the same vehicle, but with a license plate.
According to PCSO, deputies tracked down Miranda’s mother, who told them he has been a registered sex offender since 2000. She explained he worked at a used car lot and frequently travels across the region searching for vehicles to purchase.
Miranda was arrested in Titusville for failing to register as a sex offender at his Polk County address. Deputies searched his home and vehicle, finding his cellphone, clothing and three black masks, Judd said.
“The real heroes of this investigation are the very brave children who immediately thwarted this pervert’s efforts to corrupt, assault, kidnap or molest them, and who gave law enforcement officers excellent descriptions of the suspect and the vehicle he was in,” Judd said.
Miranda was transferred to the Polk County jail on Wednesday and was charged with the following offenses, according to the sheriff’s office:
Three counts sex offender failure to register (F3) – for failing to report his temporary residence in Lake Alfred to the PCSO; for failing to report the Lake Alfred residence to the DHSMV; and for failing to report the Mitsubishi Outlander as a vehicle he owns and drives.
One count attempted kidnapping (F1)* – for attempting to kidnap a child under 13 by attempting to get her into his vehicle on February 23, 2024.
One count lewd and lascivious exhibition by a person over 18 (F1)* – for masturbating in front of a child under the age of 16 on February 23, 2024.
One count indecent exposure (F3)* – for exposing himself to two women on February 16, 2024.
“These cannot be the only instances where Miranda has solicited or exposed himself—we encourage anyone who has seen this guy and/or car connected with anything illegal to please contact us,” Judd said. We need to make sure this guy spends years in prison to separate him from innocent children.”
The sheriff’s office believes there may be additional victims in this case throughout the region.
“Central Florida is his playground,” Winter Haven Deputy Police Chief Vance Monroe said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office or their local law enforcement.
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