A popular track and field coach in Miami Gardens, FL has been accused of sexually molesting two of his students – both of whom are sisters. The oldest of the two sisters came forward and accused Darius Lawshea, 45, of sexual assault who she says molested her 10 years before he recently molested her younger sister.
The woman claims Lawshea had non-consensual sex with her when she was just 14-years-old. She said the encounters occurred once at his apartment and two other times in his car before taking her home from practice. She said “she never disclosed what happened because she was fearful because Mr. Lawshea was loved by everyone in the community and she didn’t want to get in trouble but she battled with why Mr. Lawshea like her and she was only 14-years-old.”
She decided to come forward after learning that Lawshea was doing the same thing to her younger sister. The woman received word that Lawshea “recently sexually molested her little sister, so therefore she knew it was important to finally speak up.”
During the court hearing, Lawshea’s attorney said, “My client is well respected in the community and well respected among many who are now adults. There has been an outpouring of support for Mr. Lawshea. This is an individual who is going forth and plans to say that he is innocent.”
Lawshea is facing two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child, aged 12 to 16 (charges related to the younger sister) and three counts of sexual battery (charges related to the older sister).
