KEY WEST, FL — A Monroe County jury found Emmanuel Noslen Teixeira guilty of kidnapping and attempted sexual battery following a jury trial before Circuit Judge Mark Jones.

The jury returned its verdict after approximately two hours of deliberation.

The charges stemmed from a July 11, 2022 incident in which Teixeira falsely represented himself as an Uber driver to gain the trust of a woman who was trying to get home safely after a night out in Key West. Teixeira was not an Uber driver.

According to evidence presented at trial, the victim became separated from her friends after leaving a downtown Key West bar and accepted a ride from Teixeira after he told her he could take her home. Instead of driving her to her destination, Teixeira continued north on U.S. 1 and turned onto Blimp Road in Cudjoe Key, a dark and isolated area.

During the drive, Teixeira ignored the victim’s repeated pleas to stop and let her out. He touched the victim without her consent and attempted to force further sexual contact. The victim fought back and struck Teixeira in the face with her elbow.

The victim was able to unbuckle her seatbelt and jump from the vehicle when it slowed. She hid in the mangroves and briefly stood in the water to avoid detection. When she returned to U.S. 1, Teixeira pulled up alongside her and repeatedly tried to persuade her to get back into his vehicle. The victim refused, and after several minutes Teixeira drove away. She then walked south on U.S. 1 until she reached the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office substation in Cudjoe Key, where deputies assisted her and began the investigation.

The investigation gained significant momentum following a second incident on August 18, 2022, involving another woman in Key West. In that case, Teixeira is charged with sexual battery, false imprisonment, battery, and indecent exposure. Investigators allege that the circumstances of that encounter bore striking similarities to the July 11 incident and helped law enforcement identify Teixeira as the suspect. That case remains pending, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Teixeira later fled the state and was located in New Mexico. He was extradited back to Monroe County to face trial at a cost of $7,071.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 1, 2026, before Circuit Judge Mark Jones.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield praised the work of the prosecution team.

“I commend the valiant efforts of our prosecutors in taking this dangerous predator off the street,” Mansfield said. “Their steadfast commitment to ensuring the safety of our community is praiseworthy.”

Assistant State Attorney Madeline Thompson added, “I am proud of the victims in this matter for their courage in coming forward and facing their attacker in court. Due to their testimony, we were able to present a strong case in which the jury was able to correctly reach a guilty verdict. I am glad I was able to play a part in bringing this case to justice and making our community safer.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Madeline Thompson and Michael Pope.

MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.

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