Update: October 29
Four new charges have been brought against Miami Gardens Xpress youth coach Darius Lawshea, 45, since his initial arrest on Sunday for alleged sexual abuse against minors spanning at least a decade.
Additional charges of sexual battery on a minor by an adult; lewd and lascivious molestation of a child 12-18 years; and obscene material and protection of minors were added to Lawshea's case after he was arrested and brought into the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Center over the weekend by the Miami Gardens Police Department on five counts of alleged sexual battery on a minor and lewd and lascivious molestation of a child 12-16 years.
Lawshea did not give a statement to officers. After arraignment on Oct. 26, he was held with no bond on three counts and $7,500 on two more counts.
The case against the MGX coach began in September when, according to a police affidavit, one alleged victim and her mother began to disclose details into situations that took place as early as 2010.
The affidavit alleges that when the victim was just 14 years old and Lawshea was 35, he had sex with her three times over the course of the year, including twice in his car and once in his apartment while she was spending the night there ahead of a track meet the next day.
The alleged victim described various details about Lawshea, including his apartment layout and the car he drove in 2010. But the victim never spoke up at the time, according to the affidavit, because Lawshea "was loved by everyone in the community and she didn't want to get in trouble."
The alleged victim began to speak up, the report continued, because "she heard that Mr. Lawshea had recently sexually molested her little sister."
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More information has also come to light in reference to Lawshea's alleged past.
In 2014, Lawshea filed a complaint with the City of Miami against officer Kevin Williams for what Lawshea deemed harassment and slander.
According to Civilian Investigative Panel meeting records, Lawshea said Williams, who was a coach for another youth program at the time, "called him a 'pedophile' and used profanity in front of the parents and students at a track meet."
Nearly three months afte the official complaint, the City of Miami's Internal Affairs closed the Civilian Investigative Panel after Lawshea did not return phone messages or written letters.
After review by the city, the allegation of harassment was deemed "cleared," while discourtesy was "inconclusive" in February of 2015.
Original Story: October 25
Darius Lawshea, the nationally-renowned youth track and field coach for Miami Gardens Xpress who has led athletes for the club to distinguished success over the last half decade-plus, was arrested on Sunday on two charges, including three counts of sexual battery on a minor and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child between 12-16 years.
Lawshea, 45, was arrested by the Miami Gardens Police Department and booked at 3:21 p.m. on Sunday at the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Center. He was given no bond on the first charge and placed on $7,500 bond for each count on the latter charge.
On Saturday, a probable cause warrant for arrest on Lawshea began circulating on a popular track and field message board on Facebook, the Real Deal Track and Field Group. The arrest warrant alleged the incidents with Lawshea and a minor occurred as early as 2010 and 2018 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
On Saturday, MileSplit reached out to Lawshea for confirmation on the accuracy of the charges and for comment.
Lawshea responded: "Just keep me in your prayers as i fight for my innocents (sic)."
Lawshea deleted his social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook on Saturday. A statement also went up on the Miami Gardens Xpress website that read: "**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**Miami Gardens Xpress Track Club has been the victim of identify (sic) theft. We're currently working with the proper authorities to remedy the situation. Thank you."