Church youth leader accused of forcing 5-year-old to perform oral sex on him, police say

Arrest report: Relatives took Dimitri Jamal Daniels, 18, to police station

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – An 18-year-old church youth leader is accused of forcing a 5-year-old girl to perform oral sex on him, Pembroke Pines police announced Tuesday.

According to an arrest report, relatives took Dimitri Jamal Daniels to the police station Tuesday, a day after the victim's aunt saw the child performing oral sex on Daniels.

Police said the aunt entered the den area of Daniels' home, where he and the victim were Sunday, and the victim told her what Daniels had forced her to do.

Police said relatives questioned Daniels and he confessed to sexually battering the girl.

According to detectives, Daniels had sexually battered the child on multiple occasions and exposed her to video pornography.

Daniels faces charges of sexual assault on a child less than 12 and lewd and lascivious behavior on a child less than 12. 

Police said that prior to his arrest, Daniels served as a volunteer youth leader at the Mount Pisgah Seventh-day Adventist Church in Miami Gardens. The church claims Daniels was not a volunteer at the church, but said he and his family are parishioners. 

Because of his possible close proximity with children during his time at the church, detectives believe there may be additional victims.

"He had the opportunity to be around children on a regular basis," Pembroke Pines police Capt. Al Xiques said. "We are asking parents who may have attended that church with their children and who may have been in contract with the suspect in this case, ask their children (and) report the incident."

Anyone who wishes to report an additional crime regarding Daniels is asked to call the Pembroke Pines Police Department's Investigations Bureau at 954-431-2225.  


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Sanela Sabovic joined Local 10 News in September 2012 as an assignment editor and associate producer. In August 2015, she became a full-time reporter and fill-in traffic reporter. Sanela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a concentration in radio, television and film from DePaul University.