MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade County Judge Mindy Glazer set a $300,000 bond Wednesday for a man who is accused of molesting a 6-year-old girl earlier this year at the pool at her apartment complex.
The judge said she found probable cause for the lewd and lascivious molestation charge against Jozef Opdeweegh, 51, of Pinecrest.
According to an arrest affidavit, Opdeweegh touched the girl's vagina over her bathing suit three times May 31 at the girl's birthday pool party at her apartment complex in the 8100 block of Southwest 72nd Avenue.
"He allegedly touched her while she was in a floatie under the water," Detective Isabel Soto said.
Opdeweegh initially appeared in bond court Tuesday morning with a private defense attorney.
The state asked that bond be denied, but Glazer wouldn't agree until she heard more from the detective on the case regarding probable cause. Soto was not in the courtroom Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Glazer set Opdeweegh's bond and ordered him to to stay away from the victim and her family.
"In this case, a great mistake has been made and Mr. Opdeweegh is innocent of the charges," the Opdeweegh's family spokeswoman Laura Guitar said.
The victim's family's attorney said the defense is trying to undermine the child's statements.
"Clearly, there was inappropriate touching," Ron Book said. "The defense attempted to undermine the child's direct testimony with the detectives and the families about what occurred."
Opdeweegh was also ordered to stay away from his own children's school and cannot have contact with anyone under the age of 18, except his own children.
Opdeweegh was released from jail Wednesday afternoon. He declined to speak with reporters.