Arrest Record: Sexual Assault at Estero Hookah Lounge

Incident Details:

• Date: Saturday morning, approximately 5:00 AM
• Location: Estero Hookah Lounge
• Arresting Agency: Lee County Sheriff's Office
• Charges: One felony count of sexual assault
• Age at Arrest: 28 years old

Incident Report Summary:

According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office report, Samer Merhi was arrested after a woman claimed he:

• Introduced himself as the owner of the hookah lounge
• Invited the victim to see a back security room area
• Attempted to kiss and hug the victim
• Blocked the door to prevent her from leaving
• Exposed himself to the victim
• Began touching himself inappropriately
• Asked the victim to perform sexual acts

Victim's Account:

The female victim reported that she was visiting the lounge with her sister and boyfriend. When the sister and boyfriend began to argue, the woman said she started to share a hookah with Merhi. The sheriff's report said Merhi introduced himself as the owner of the lounge and invited the woman to see a back security room area. The woman reported that once inside, Merhi tried kissing and hugging her and then blocked the door and exposed himself to her and began touching himself. The report said the woman said Merhi also asked her to kiss his privates. The woman made it outside and called 911.

Court Information:

• Probable Cause: Deputies reported sufficient probable cause for arrest
• Charge Level: Felony sexual assault
• Defendant's Claims: Merhi claimed surveillance video would clear him
• Contradictory Statements: Initially claimed to be owner, later denied ownership

Defendant's Response:

When reached at home, Merhi stated he was in contact with a lawyer and gathering evidence. He claimed:

• "There is a video that recorded everything"
• The report was incorrect
• He was not the lounge owner, only "helping out"

Police Corruption Conviction:

Samer Merhi has also been convicted of corruption involving police officers.

Details:

• Nature: Corruption charges involving law enforcement
• Status: Convicted
• Impact: Demonstrates pattern of illegal behavior
• Relevance: Shows willingness to engage in fraudulent activities

Red Flags for Attorney Referral Clients:

• Would you trust your legal case to someone with a felony sexual assault charge?
• Can you rely on someone convicted of police corruption?
• Is this the type of person you want handling your personal injury claim?
• Do you feel safe providing personal information to this individual?

The answer to all these questions should be a resounding NO.