ORLANDO, Fla. — A former Orlando police officer took a plea deal Tuesday after he was accused of groping a nursing mother's breast. Brandon Loverde will not go to jail, but he won't ever be allowed to be a police officer in Florida again.
Michelle Cortez wiped away tears while former Orlando police officer, Brandon Loverde, pled guilty to disorderly conduct in court. Cortez, a mother of two, said while Loverde was working off-duty at Club Firestone last December he groped her.
"They said for fondling a female's breast it's like punching someone in the face, so basically anybody can touch a female's breast and get a slap on the hand," Michelle Cortez said.
Loverde was initially charged with false imprisonment and battery, but the state said it did not have enough evidence to move forward with felony charges.
Officer Loverde claimed he was writing a trespass warning, after someone with Club Firestone asked Cortez to leave.
In the surveillance video Cortez and Loverde walk past a police car. They ended up at a different location and Cortez said that's when Loverde fondled her. No cameras caught the alleged crime on tape.
If Loverde had been convicted of misdemeanor battery, he could have served jail time but could have kept his law enforcement certification.
As part of the state's plea deal, Loverde will relinquish his certificate.
"I wish he went to jail so they can fondle him and see how he likes it," Cortez said.
"He deserves way worse than what they gave him. I think the system failed today," said Michelle's father Jesus Cortez.
Loverde did not answer any of WFTV's questions. His attorney maintains his client is innocent.
"He did not get off easy. He took a plea when he shouldn't have taken anything. He didn't want to go through the hassle," defense attorney David Bigney said.
Cortez did not agree to the plea deal.
Loverde resigned last May. Since he was only charged with a misdemeanor, he will still be able to keep his pension.
WFTV