A South Florida swim instructor accused of molesting multiple young girls was in court Thursday where he was formally charged.
Prosecutors charged 20-year-old Daniel Diaz-Mejia with four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12 year of age, and said they're working out the details on a fifth case.
Diaz-Mejia pleaded not guilty to the charges. The alleged victims, two 7-year-olds, an 8-year-old, and two 9-year-old girls, told detectives that Diaz-Mejia fondled them while teaching them to swim.
According to the arrest report, Diaz-Mejia admitted to the allegations to detectives during his police interview. Miami-Dade parks officials say he was a swim instructor at South Dade Park and Goulds Park for just over three years.
"He's innocent until he's proven guilty," defense attorney Alex Arreaza said. "These type of allegations could ruin an individual's life so you always have to be concerned and I'm very concerned as his lawyer."
For now, he remains in jail without a bond. Arreaza wants the court to consider giving Diaz-Mejia bond, and a hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 22.
