Javier Ramos Sanchez of West Palm Beach, Florida was arrested on Monday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 5-year-old child he babysat a year ago. His relationship with the child is unclear.
Sanchez, 27, is being charged with sexual battery on a victim younger than 12 years of age. He is being held without bond at Palm Beach County Jail. The press did not name an attorney for him.
According to the arrest report, police learned about the alleged assault on August 7 after the victim, who is now 6 years old, told a parent about the assault. The 6-year-old could not say exactly when the sexual assault occurred. Sanchez was reportedly the victim’s babysitter when the child was 5 years old, and that is when the attack is believed to have occurred.
When questioned by investigators, Sanchez allegedly admitted to touching himself inappropriately in front of the victim. He also admitted to “allowing” the victim to perform a sex act. Under Florida statutes, the age of consent is 18 and no one under 16 can give consent.
This is the second case of sexual assault involving an adult and a child reported in West Palm Beach this week. Leonard White of West Palm Beach, Florida was arrested last week for allegedly exposing himself to a napping 4-year-old at a Jupiter school.
White, 34, faces one charge of lewd and lascivious behavior on a victim under 12 years of age. He was taken to Palm Beach County Jail and was released on $15,000 bond. A judge ordered him not to have any contact with anyone under 18. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.
According to the police report, the alleged incident took place during the first week July at a school in Jupiter. The name and location of the school were redacted in the report. White allegedly tickled the child under her shirt during nap time, showed her his penis, and walked away.
The 4-year-old reportedly told police on July 12 that “Mr. Leonard” did not touch her anywhere else. She said she has her own area in the classroom behind a shelf for napping and that the teacher was on the other side of the room, according to the report.
Footage from the classroom’s surveillance camera shows White walking back and forth past the victim, and then bending down and reaching with one arm over the victim. It appears White touched the victim, but a decoration hanging from the ceiling obstructs the shot and makes it impossible to conclusively determine if he exposed himself.
The school’s director allegedly questioned White about the incident, but he denied the allegation and said he knelt down to pick something up from the shelf and “adjusted his pants.” White changed his story when he spoke to detectives at the Jupiter Police Department two weeks later. He admitted he pulled out his penis and exposed himself in front of the victim, the report states.
The report lists White as a chef at the school. The school’s director has reportedly told him not to come back to the school while the investigation continues.