CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
A ruling that a detective was too good-looking for a gay suspect to be charged in an undercover drug sting has been upheld by an appeals court in Florida. The fourth district court of appeal agreed with Broward County circuit judge Susan Lebow's decision that Julio Blanco thought the undercover officer might have been looking for a sexual relationship--not drugs--when he asked whether the defendant liked to "party." Blanco, 37, who described himself as a lonely gay man, said that he understood "party" to mean having a good time or being sexually involved. According to court records, Fort Lauderdale police detective Mike Nahum, working with a Drug Enforcement Administration team, followed up his question to Blanco with several requests for cocaine. Blanco refused three times and even tried to leave but was ultimately convinced to stay. Eventually he went to a rest room and bought some methamphetamines for the officer. "The whole situation seemed very clear to me," Lebow said during a 2002 hearing. "I mean, the detective walked in dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, and for the record, he was a very attractive man and--" The defense attorney interrupted and asked the judge to make an official finding that Nahum is attractive, which she did. "For the record, I would submit he was about 6-foot-2. He was in good shape, you know, a fit individual, young detective, looked to be maybe 30," Blanco's attorney, Kevin J. Kulik, said. Nahum testified that he had done nothing to make himself appear attractive to Blanco and said he understood "party" to mean drugs. The appeals court agreed that Blanco had been entrapped by "nonverbal communication used" by the undercover agent. "There is no suggestion by anyone that the defendant was interested in committing any crime--and certainly not any drug crime--until the state instigated and promoted such a violation," according to Wednesday's ruling. One appellate judge, Melanie May, dissented, writing "that this defendant was a lonely gay man looking for attention does not transform the officer's conduct into a type prohibited by the constitution." Fort Lauderdale police and Nahum declined to comment. Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Joe Kilmer said agency lawyers would have to review the ruling before he could comment.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
George Santos pulls out of New York congressional race
April 23 2024 7:04 PM
Biden will hammer Trump over abortion bans in Florida speech
April 23 2024 5:00 AM
Tristan Snell, who brought down Trump University, sees conviction in hush money case
April 22 2024 7:36 PM
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM