Miramar Man Facing Child Abuse Charge For Letting 9-Year-Old Girl Drive Car

9-year-old spotted behind wheel of swerving car: Police

A Miramar man is facing a child abuse charge after police say he had his girlfriend's 9-year-old daughter drive him around.

Carlos Augusto Esparsa, 34, was arrested Sunday after his girlfriend's daughter was spotted driving his Hyundai Accent in the 13000 block of Southwest 22nd Street, according to a Miramar Police arrest affidavit released Tuesday.

Miramar Police had received a 911 call that the car was swerving up and down the street with a young girl behind the wheel and an adult in the passenger seat, the affidavit said.

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An officer later spotted the car in a driveway in the 2400 block of Southwest 134th Street with Esparsa in the passenger seat. The girl appeared to have just moved from the driver's seat to the back seat, the affidavit said.

When police contacted the girl's mother, she said Esparsa is a caretaker for the 9-year-old.

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The affidavit didn't say why Esparsa was letting the youngster drive the car but during an appearance in bond court Monday, Judge John Hurley said Esparsa had no driver's license.

Esparsa was charged with child abuse without causing great harm and permitting an unlicensed minor to drive and was ordered held without bond on an Immigration hold during Monday's court appearance. It was unknown whether he has an attorney.

Miramar Police officer Gil Bueno reinforced Florida's driving laws.

"Parents cannot give their kids permission to drive on the roads in the state of Florida," he said. "It's just not allowed. It was very fortunate that she didn't lose control of the car and she didn't run into something, hurt somebody or hurt herself.

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