Brian Fields, a Wilton Manors, Florida shelter employee, was arrested Wednesday after he was accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl, news sources report. The sexual activity occurred at a children's shelter where, regrettably, a similar sexual crime occurred earlier this year. Fields, 31, was booked into the Broward County Main Jail on charges of engaging in sexual activity with a person under the age of 16. It is unclear whether he has qualified for bail bond. It is also unclear whether he has obtained a criminal defense lawyer.
Reports say the sexual activity occurred at the Kids in Distress Shelter in Wilton Manors. Earlier this year, the shelter fell under police investigation after Brian Denby was arrested for sexually assaulting two girls on the shelter's grounds. Denby allegedly hopped the fence surrounding the shelter and had sex with two teen girls, including the same 15-year-old girl from this more recent case. That assault prompted the shelter to fire two employees for failing to keep watch.
According to reports, Fields has been operating during the night shift at the shelter for the past 10 years. The Kids in Distress CEO Mark Dhooge said all employees undergo strict background checks and must participate in training sessions before the shelter hires them. "We are looking at all of our procedures, all of our security measures, to update them and provide as much enhanced security as we possibly can," Dhooge said in a statement.
It appears as though detectives learned of this more recent abuse while interviewing the victim following Denby's arrest. Detectives say Fields had sexual contact with the victim four times between December 27 and January 6. "The incidents reported were consensual between the victim and suspect, although this case becomes a crime due to the victim's age," a police statement says. Detectives are continuing their investigation and may identify additional victims. Wilton Manors detectives have opened their hotlines for anyone with additional information.
Fields is not the only South Florida man accused of sexually abusing a minor recently. Thoniel Noel of Lake Worth was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly molested two preteen girls, sources report. Noel, 19, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on seven counts of sexual battery on a child, lewd or lascivious molestation, and lewd or lascivious battery. He is being held without bail. It is unclear whether he has hired legal representation.
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