While wife sick in hospital, Florida preacher accused of raping the babysitter

While his wife was sick in the hospital, police said a Florida preacher sexually assaulted the 16-year-old babysitter.

The victim was staying at Junior Augustin’s home to help with babysitting his eight children while his wife was in the hospital, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.

The 16-year-old victim stayed at Augustin’s house during January and February, authorities said.

When she returned home in March, her mother started noticing signs of behavior that were suspicious, police said.

The mother continued to be suspicious of these newly acquired behaviors, so authorities said she obtained her daughter’s cellphone and found sexually explicit photos and messages. 

The messages were sent to and from Augustin via Whatsapp and Telegram and they expressed their love for each other, police said. 

On two occasions in March, Augustin acknowledged the acts and made a voluntary confession during a meeting that was regularly recorded at a church in Central Broward, authorities said.

Broward Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested Augustin on March 30 on charges of sexual battery on a minor 16 or 17 years of age and sex offense of a victim over 12 and up to 15 years of age, authorities said.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.