24-year old Markanthony Fernandez was charged Tuesday with four felonies and six misdemeanors for events involving inappropriate videos, drugs, and alcohol.
The incidents in question allegedly occurred during the weekend of February 3, 2024 and were recorded by Fernandez on video, according to detectives. Fernandez then sent those videos to fellow officers at Bartow PD.
Those officers reported it to their supervisors.“Markanthony Fernandez has embarrassed his community, police department, and law enforcement officers everywhere.
In contrast, his fellow officers at Bartow Police Department did the right thing by reporting his conduct. Markanthony Fernandez must never wear a badge again,” said Sheriff Grady Judd in a press release.
Fernandez recorded several videos. One video showed one of the girls wearing a Bartow PD jacket, while a 17-year old committed a se**xual act on the 18-year-old at the urging of Fernandez.
Several of the videos show the victims naked with Fernandez inside his residence. Fernandez provided all four with alcoholic beverages, THC vape pens, and THC gummies.
Markanthony Fernandez was booked-in at the Polk County Jail and charged with: Promotion of a Juvenile in a Se**xual Performance, Use of a Juvenile in a Se**xual Performance, Battery by Strangulation, Illegal Use of a 2-Way Communication Device, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Providing Alcoholic Beverages to A Person Under 21-Years of Age.
