Leonardo Antonio Suarez-Alvarez of Tamarac, Florida was arrested this week after five girls between ages 7 to 10 reported that he molested them at Twins Gymnastics in Coral Springs.
Suarez-Alvarez, 52, is charged with five counts of lewd and lascivious behavior on a victim under 12 years old. He is being held without bond at Broward County Main Jail and is not to have any contact with the victims, their families, or any minors. The press did not name an attorney for him.
According to the arrest report, the alleged incidents took place at Twins Gymnastics at 1297 N. University Dr. in Coral Springs. Suarez-Alvarez is reportedly the brother of the establishment’s owners, Maria del Carmen Suarez and Maria Elena Suarez. Suarez-Alvarez reportedly cleaned the gym and drove kids to classes.
Each of the five victims purportedly told investigators the same thing about Suarez-Alvarez—that he repeatedly touched them in the chest area over their clothing and that the behavior continued even after the victims told him to stop.
One of the victims, a 10-year-old, told investigators that she alerted the gym’s owners about Suarez-Alvarez’s behavior, but that didn’t stop him. The girl did not specify which of the two Suarez sisters she spoke to.
“When she told Ms. Maria, it was summer vacation and Ms. Maria said she would talk to Leonardo and tell him to stop. (The girl) said that Leonardo didn’t stop. (The girl) said this has happened once or twice per week since summer vacation,” the report said, according to news sources.
Another victim, this one 7 years old, told police that Suarez-Alvarez repeatedly fondled her in the chest area for the last two years. The most recent incident was the previous day when she was doing her homework at the gym.
Investigators are asking anyone with information or any other potential victims to contact the Coral Springs police.
Another molestation case involving an adult and a minor was reported in Pembroke Pines last week. Substitute teacher Roman Jose Fondon, who taught at Ben Gamla Preparatory Academy in Hollywood, was arrested on September 19 for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student.
Fondon, 28, is being charged with sexual battery and lewd or lascivious battery on a child older than 12 but under 16 years of age. He was ordered held without bond until his trial and he is not to have contact with the alleged victim or her family.
According to the arrest report, Fondon met the alleged victim at Ben Gamla Preparatory Academy. They reportedly started following each other on social media and sent each other messages that eventually became sexual in nature. Police say Fondon had five sexual encounters with the teenager between February and April this year. The pair also reportedly sent each other nude pictures using Snapchat.
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Source: 9.27.18 Five girls accuse man of molestation at gymnastics school, police say.pdf