POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Polk County man is back behind bars on a felony murder charge after his case was reopened, thanks in part to his own lawyer’s “snarky and braggadocios” press release celebrating the initial dismissal of charges.
32-year-old Robert Cruceta-Pimentel was rearrested on Wednesday, December 11th, 2024, facing a slew of charges including felony murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, drug possession, and tampering with evidence.
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These charges stem from a December 2023 incident at the Tropicana Resort Motel near I-4 and US 27, where a botched robbery attempt resulted in the death of 33-year-old Harold Omar Sepulveda-Cruz. Cruceta-Pimentel allegedly conspired with Sepulveda-Cruz to stage a robbery during a marijuana transaction.
However, the intended victim, acting in self-defense, fatally shot Sepulveda-Cruz.
Cruceta-Pimentel was initially arrested on these charges in December 2023 but was released on December 8th, 2024, after the State Attorney’s Office temporarily dropped the case.
Following his release, Cruceta-Pimentel’s lawyer, Ralph R. Maiolino III, Esq., issued a triumphant statement to the West Orlando News, boasting about his client’s release and making what Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called “snarky and braggadocios statement.”
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“I would like to thank lawyer Ralph R. Maiolino of the law firm Smith & Eulo PLLC for bringing to my attention that the murder charge against his client, Mr. Cruceta, had been temporarily dropped. This allowed us to quickly locate a needed witness, which enabled the State Attorney’s Office to re-file murder and other charges against his client. I thank the State Attorney’s Office professional team for their persistent and hard work in this case,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Surveillance video of the incident reportedly shows Cruceta-Pimentel attempting to dispose of evidence after the shooting, contradicting his initial claims of not knowing the deceased.
Cruceta-Pimentel now faces the prospect of a lengthy legal battle, a stark contrast to the premature celebration prompted by his lawyer’s ill-timed press release.
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