Peter Ernandez

Peter Anthony Ernandez
Aliases	Peter Nmi Ernandez Pedro pedro70001976
Affiliation /Occupation	Teen mental health counselor (formerly)
Biographical information
Date of birth	01/30/1976
Physical description
Height	5'11
Weight	210 lbs
Eye color	Brown

Peter Anthony Ernandez is an unaired suspected predator featured on the Fort Myers, Florida of To Catch a Predator; he is often considered a huge missed opportunity for not having an entire segment dedicated in the final broadcast, primarily due to the continuing disturbing trend of working around children.

Biography

Ernandez's interview with Hansen

30-year-old Peter Ernandez, a teen mental health counselor working at Punta Gorda, Florida, began an internet chat with a Perverted Justice decoy who was posing as a thirteen-year-old girl. Fernandez lies about his age and name, claiming he is 24 and calling himself Pedro. After talking for only 35 minutes, Ernandez was ready to schedule a meeting with the decoy. He asked the decoy various explicit sexual questions, such as if she preferred older men and whether she had sex with her ex-boyfriend. Ernandez expresses concern to the girl that her mom might catch them having sex and send him to jail. The decoy eases Ernandez and tells him her mom will not be home.

In the chat, Ernandez later expresses concern again, fearing the girl may be an undercover cop. However, the Perverted Justice decoy tells Peter to call her to ease his worry. Fernandez agrees and calls the decoy, and his fear goes away, and PJ can verify him at the same time.

The decoy then tells Ernandez she likes to be “safe” during sex. Which Ernandez assumed it was condoms. Even though, according to the chat, he hates condoms, arguing they make him “soft,” he agrees. The decoy also tells him to bring McDonalds.

He was considered a fast mover. After only two days of talking, he made a date and began coming to Fort Meyers, Florida.

Sting and Arrest

While most of Ernandez’s Chris Hansen remains unaired, he can be seen walking into the sting house carrying the McDonalds in his hands. Small excerpts of his interview with Hansen can also be heard throughout the episode, including I take them (condoms) everywhere”, as well as Hansen telling Ernandez, “You know I hear that a lot,” most likely referring to Ernandez claiming it was his first-time meeting someone underage.

Ernandez’s interview conclusion is also highlighted in the episode when the cameramen come out, Ernandez covers his face, and Hansen gets notes that he is a mental health consoler for teens.

When highlighting how in Florida it is relatively easy to get a handgun, and the cops need to take the suspected predators to get down quickly, Ernandez can be seen getting tackled by police.

Aftermath

Ernandez's mugshot

According to the Perverted Justice website the judge made fun of Peter using the fake name Pedro at the bond hearing.

Also according to the website Hernandez made a plea deal with prosecutors in March of 2006. He was found guilty of one felony count of Using A Computer System Or Network To Solicit Or Obtain Sex With A Minor. He was sentenced to nine months in jail, three years of supervised sexual offender probation, and registration as a sex offender for life. Ernandez later moved out of Florida to South Burlington, Vermont