BAY COUNTY, Fla. – The Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrested 24 year old Yudial Cepero Hurtado on Saturday, March 14, 2026, following a cross-jurisdictional investigation into the sexual assault of a 16 year old girl. Hurtado is charged with sexual battery on a person older than 12 but younger than 18 by a person in a custodial role. The arrest was made without incident after Lynn Haven Police Department detectives obtained a warrant based on evidence gathered alongside the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
The investigation began on February 19, 2026, when Fort Lauderdale authorities notified Lynn Haven police of an alleged abuse that occurred in the Florida Panhandle. The victim and her mother had lived in Lynn Haven for approximately one year, during which time Hurtado, the mother’s boyfriend, resided with them. After the mother ended the relationship in December 2025 and moved the family to Fort Lauderdale, she observed changes in her daughter’s behavior that led to the disclosure of the abuse.
According to investigators, the assaults allegedly occurred multiple times between November and December 2025 while the mother was at work. The victim reported that Hurtado used his custodial position to force her into sexual activities against her will and stated she was previously too afraid to report the incidents. The Florida Department of Children and Families assisted law enforcement during the coordination of the case.
Chief Lewis Blanchard of the Lynn Haven Police Department credited the successful apprehension to the collaboration between the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
“By working together and sharing information across jurisdictions, law enforcement agencies are better able to hold offenders accountable and ensure that victims receive the protection and support they deserve,” Blanchard said.