Florida Preacher Sexually Assaulted Teen Who Babysat His Children While Wife Was Hospitalized

A South Florida preacher has been taken into custody for allegedly sexually assaulting a teen girl who used to babysit his children while his wife was hospitalized.

The accused, identified as 34-year-old Junior Augustin, was arrested from his home Tuesday and charged with sexual misconduct with a minor.

The probable cause report for Augustin’s arrest stated that the 16-year-old victim stayed at Augustin’s home in January and February, babysitting his eight children, while his wife was hospitalized. It remained unclear how the victim and the accused knew each other.

The assault came to light in March when the victim’s mother found the girl’s behavior suspicious when she returned to her home. The woman searched her phone and found sexually explicit messages and photos exchanged between the girl and the preacher, in which they expressed their love for each other, CBS 12 reported.

The victim’s mother informed the church officials who held a meeting to confront him. During the meeting, which was also attended by Augustin’s wife, the accused confessed to the assault. The recording of the confession was given to the detectives with the Broward Sheriff's Office. The name of the church was not mentioned in the document.

The detectives spoke to the victim and her mother and based on their complaint, the accused was taken to custody. He appeared in court Wednesday where he was charged. Augustin remained in jail as of Thursday with his bond set for $50,000 for each charge, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Broward Sheriff's Office has asked anyone with any information regarding this case or additional victims to contact Detective Dimos Charoudis at 954-321-4243 or contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).

Earlier this week, a 12-year-old boy in Miami was abducted, sexually assaulted inside a car, and shot in the head before being kicked out of the vehicle. He managed to walk to a nearby store to seek help where he collapsed. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the scene and rushed the boy to a nearby hospital in a critical condition.