The Paraíba Court of Justice has upheld the imprisonment of influencer Hytalo Santos and his husband, Israel Vicente, for producing sexual exploitation content involving minors.
On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the Paraíba Court of Justice (TJPB) ruled, by majority vote, to maintain the imprisonment of influencer Hytalo Santos and his husband, Israel Vicente. Both have been convicted for producing content that sexually exploited adolescents and have been incarcerated in the Roger Prison in João Pessoa since August 2025. This recent decision follows a habeas corpus analysis and confirmation after previous requests for release had already been denied on two occasions this year.
The ruling was discussed in the Criminal Chamber, with the report provided by Judge João Benedito. The defense had requested the habeas corpus separately from requests made in September and November, which were both denied. The judges who voted to maintain the prison sentences, including Judge Ricardo Vital and President Carlos Beltrão, cited the need to ensure public order and the risk of flight as justifications for their decision, illustrating the court's prioritization of community safety over the defendants' requests for release.
The defense's argument for reevaluation centered on delays associated with the sentencing process. They asserted that extended timelines could infringe on the rights of the accused to a timely trial. Nonetheless, the court appeared to prioritize public safety over procedural concerns, reflecting a broader judicial trend in Brazil regarding crimes against children and adolescents, where the courts are taking increasingly strict stances against offenders to discourage such exploitative behavior and maintain societal norms.
