A jury on Tuesday acquitted a mental health counselor of human trafficking but convicted her of two other charges linked to her allegedly luring a 15-year-old girl and coaxing her to have sex with men in a Miami-Dade hotel room.

Maria Ximena Duarte, 48, looked at Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Ellen Sue Venzer and breathed heavily as the verdict was read. Duarte, a psychologist whose license is suspended, was convicted of lewd and lascivious exhibition, a felony, and an unnatural and lascivious act, a lesser misdemeanor charge.

The six-person jury deliberated on Duarte’s fate for just over two hours. She was initially charged with human trafficking as well as lewd and lascivious exhibition and battery.

READ MORE: Miami-Dade psychologist among two arrested for trafficking a 15-year-old girl: police

Defense attorney Robert Barrar asked Judge Venzer to “hold off” on jailing Duarte, who he said has severe mental health concerns. But Duarte, who been out on house arrest since January, was handcuffed, fingerprinted and led to the back of the courtroom by several corrections officers.

Duarte is facing up to 15 years in prison and will be sentenced on Jan. 11.

Outside the courtroom, Barrar told reporters he was “happy” that the jury found Duarte not guilty of human trafficking, the most serious charge she faced.

“Overall, I think it was a huge win,” Barrar said.

The attorney added that Duarte may not have to go to prison at all, but “we’ll have wait and see” what happens at sentencing.

During closing arguments, prosecutor Justin Funck said Duarte groomed, manipulated and took advantage of the teen girl. Duarte, he said, used her role as a psychologist to gain the girl’s trust before her luring her to a “drug-fueled party” at Aloft Hotel, 7600 SW 88th St, on Aug. 13, 2024.

“Maria Duarte exploited [the victim] to get what she wanted,” Funck said. “She’s guilty, she did it.”

Barrar, however, cast doubt on the victim’s account. Duarte wiped tears from her eyes as Barrar spoke.

The attorney also pointed out how two men involved – Jason Mojica and Hermes Mejia – were facing decades in prison but “got deals of a lifetime.”

Mojica, 48, last week pleaded guilty to sexual battery and lewd and lascivious battery charges. He testified against Duarte and was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by 10 years of probation.

Mejia, 32, also struck a deal with prosecutors. In March 2025, he pleaded guilty to a child abuse charge and was sentenced to probation. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped lewd and lascivious battery and exhibition charges, court records indicate.

“This case is riddled with reasonable doubt like Swiss cheese,” Barrar said.

Teen details horrific ordeal

Duarte met the 15-year-old when the girl was taking a stroll with her dog near a pool at the hotel, according to Duarte’s arrest report. Duarte walked up to the teen and befriended her by telling her she was a psychologist.

The child became comfortable with Duarte, sharing her life struggles, the report said. While they spoke, Duarte offered the girl marijuana and brought her alcohol, which the young girl refused.

Duarte then coaxed the girl to come to her hotel room later that night, according to the report. The 15-year-old spent the night with her.

The girl, who detailed what unfolded to the jury during the trial, visited Duarte several times during the span of days. Duarte took pictures of the girl and told her a man named Pablo wanted her to have sex with, the report stated. But the victim refused.

Pablo, who police identified as Mejia, came to the room and sexually assaulted the girl. The following day, Mojica, Duarte’s boyfriend, came to the hotel room. The teen tried to leave, but Duarte pushed her back in and told her to make him “feel good.”

Mojica then sexually assaulted the girl, the report says. After, the teen hid in the bathroom, periodically checking to see if Mojica had left. Each time she came out, Mojica asked her for sex.

During the horrific ordeal, the girl learned Duarte exchanged sex for drugs, according to the report. Duarte offered the teen drugs and alcohol and asked her to record sexual acts – and forced her to have another sexual encounter with Mojica, according to investigators.