A Florida babysitter has been sentenced to the maximum prison term after being found guilty of child sexual abuse, according to federal prosecutors.
Olejuwan Lamar Steele, 30, worked as a community babysitter in Dade City, according to officials. In a disturbing incident, Steele has been accused of filming himself engaging in sexual abuse of a 2-year-old child under his care. This shocking revelation comes from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
According to prosecutors, he allegedly live-streamed the abuse while he was babysitting.
Prosecutors reported that Steele, a resident of Zephyrhills, admitted to producing child sex abuse material and pleaded guilty in April.
In a recent news release, prosecutors announced that he has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, starting from July 22.
According to Micah McCombs, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Tampa, the babysitter took advantage of a child’s innocence, broke the trust given to him, and disregarded the importance of childhood.
Steele’s court-appointed public defender, Douglas Jordan Stamm, chose not to provide a comment to McClatchy News on July 23 in accordance with his office’s policy.
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According to court documents, in April 2023, Homeland Security agents in Tampa were alerted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a child in potential danger in the area.
According to prosecutors, the nonprofit organization, which was established by Congress in 1984, had suspicions that Steele played a role in causing harm to the child, as stated in a sentencing memorandum.
Investigators were provided with videos by the NCMEC that showed a man sexually abusing a child in Dade City, which is located about 40 miles northeast of Tampa, as stated in the sentencing memorandum. Authorities have confirmed the individual featured in the videos as Steele.
In 2020, prosecutors alleged that Steele had sexually abused another child, who happened to be his nonverbal nephew. This accusation came to light when he was already a suspect in a separate NCMEC tip.
According to prosecutors, Steele was exploiting his connections with family and friends to target vulnerable children who were unable to advocate for themselves.
The evidence presented in this case paints a disturbing picture of Steele as a dangerous predator, preying on vulnerable children. The court now has two videos showcasing his exploitation, further highlighting the seriousness of his actions.
According to a sentencing memo filed on Steele’s behalf, Stamm stated that Steele was influenced to commit the crime against the toddler in 2022 by an anonymous individual online.
Additionally, he mentioned that Steele expresses profound remorse.
Prior to sentencing, prosecutors highlighted Steele’s strong connections with his family and his lack of any previous emotional or mental health issues.
The government’s sentencing memo condemns the video of child pornography as extremely disturbing and highlights the unimaginable harm inflicted upon the child.
Prosecutors have stated that Steele’s prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
Prosecutors have stated that he has been ordered to pay the victim $3,000 in restitution and will be required to register as a sex offender as reported by the Miami Herald.
If you suspect that a child is in immediate danger, it is crucial to call 911 for assistance.