Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Heriberto Leonel Roblero Morales, aged 32, was taken into custody last night and faces charges of engaging in unlawful sexual conduct with a minor following the birth of a child by a juvenile he was in a “relationship” with.

The 17-year-old girl gave birth yesterday, prompting the University of Florida Police Department to inform the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) since the father, at 32 years old, lives in Gainesville.

A detective with the GPD discovered that Roblero Morales is the father of the newborn. Upon police contact, Roblero Morales reportedly showed his Mexican passport as proof of identity, which verified his age.

Roblero Morales had reportedly been “dating” the victim for a year, and the victim reportedly said she did not tell him her age until December 2024, when she learned she was pregnant. She said this caused a “relationship separation” between her and Roblero Morales, but he kept in contact with her and gave her money for her pregnancy and the baby.

The detective also reported that Roblero Morales, the victim, and a female relative of the victim all used to live in Mexico and that Roblero Morales had known the victim since she was seven years old. Roblero Morales came to the United States in 2018, and the victim and her relative reconnected with Roblero Morales in Gainesville about a year ago. Roblero Morales was allowed to move in with the victim and her relative but moved back out when he learned that the victim was pregnant and under 18.

Post Miranda, Roblero Morales reportedly confirmed the information above and said he and the victim had grown up in the same neighborhood in Mexico and he met the victim when she was about seven years old.

The detective noted that because of this, Roblero Morales should have known or had a “good idea” of the victim’s age.

Roblero Morales reportedly said he had lived in Gainesville for seven years and that the victim’s relative had let him move into their house between May and July of 2024; he said he had sex with the victim before he moved in, but he wasn’t sure exactly when that began.

Roblero Morales reportedly said he has been “dating” the victim for about 15 months, which would indicate that they started “dating” when the victim was 16 years old; the detective noted that based on the information provided by Roblero Morales, the sexual relationship also started when the victim was 16.

Roblero Morales reportedly said he found out the victim was pregnant around Christmas and that he was positive the baby was his because he was living with the victim when she became pregnant. He said he found out her true age in April 2025 because he overheard a conversation about her turning 17.

The detective reportedly said it was hard to believe that Roblero Morales had dated the victim for almost a year before confirming her age, and Roblero Morales reportedly said she told him she was “21 or 22,” and he believed her. He also said he thought she might have been around 19 or 20 before he learned her true age. He said the victim’s relative did not know how old he was.

Roblero Morales has been charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor. Locally, he has one misdemeanor conviction for driving without a valid license. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $100,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.