BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Brevard County mental health counselor is facing charges for waiting more than a week to report allegations of child sexual abuse, Palm Bay Police said.
Jennifer David would not talk to Channel 9’s Melonie Holt as she walked out of the Brevard County Jail after posting bond.
Police said because David is a mental health professional, it’s her obligation to report this abuse allegation immediately.
According to investigators, David was babysitting a group of children last month when a 13-year-old told David he'd sexually battered a 9-year-old.
Police said David finished babysitting and left without telling anyone. Police said the allegations came to light after she was asked another time to watch the children.
David has been charged with neglect and failure to report by a mandatory reporter.
“It doesn't matter how she became aware of these allegations. Once this child told her of the alleged abuse she was mandated to report that,” said WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer.
David told police she didn’t report the allegation earlier because she wanted to wait for the right time and had to collect her thoughts.
David said she was not in fear that the teen would abuse the younger child again because he promised he wouldn't.
Investigators told Eyewitness News he’s in juvenile detention.
“If in fact she's licensed and these allegations are proven, the Board of Professional Responsibilities may take action against her license, which could include revocation,” Sheaffer said.
DCF told Eyewitness News that the 9-year-old victim in this case was not removed from her home, but is in counseling.
Contact Melonie Holt for more on this story.
Cox Media Group
