MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 54-year-old man confessed to sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy at a church in Miami-Dade County’s Westchester area and said “the devil” made him do it, according to deputies.
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Alvaro Rios, who works as a server, shortly before 12:40 a.m. on Wednesday at his home in Cutler Bay, according to the deputies’ arrest report.
Rios followed the teenage boy to the restroom at St. Agatha Catholic Church, “rubbed” his back, “fondled his buttocks,” grabbed him by the neck, “kissed him on the lips,” and told him “he was beautiful,” according to Miami-Dade deputies’ arrest report.
“The victim explained he was disgusted by this action and ran out of the restroom,” a deputy wrote.
The teen told his mother and a family friend that the abuse happened at about 1 p.m. on Oct. 5 at St. Agatha Catholic Church, at 1111 SW 107 Ave., and Rios had also asked him for his phone number, according to the arrest report.
Miami-Dade County inmate records show correctional deputies booked Rios shortly before 3:25 a.m. on Wednesday at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Rios wore an anti-suicide smock to bond court at about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. He needed the help of a Spanish interpreter, as he stood before Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer.
“Do not go near that child,” Glazer told Rios about her orders to stay away from the 13-year-old victim and from St. Agatha Catholic Church.
Rios faced second-degree felony charges of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child and lewd and lascivious conduct on a child, records show.
Glazer described the charges as “serious” and set his bond at $15,000. Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Tanya Brinkley was set to preside over the case, according to court records.
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 to remain anonymous.
Local 10 News Assignment Editor Carson Merlo contributed to this report.
Read the arrest report
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