WESTON, Fla. – A Weston podiatrist accused of molesting his 15-year-old babysitter in 2012 appeared in court Tuesday for the first day of his trial.
The victim, now 19, was the state's first witness. She cried while speaking about the night of the incident four years ago.
Dr. Augustine Bollo is accused of molesting the teen and then offering to pay her to keep quiet.
The incident allegedly happened at his home in Weston, where she was hired part-time to babysit his four children.
According to a police report, Bollo and the teen were sitting next to each other on the couch at his home when he placed a blanket over them and asked her to touch his genitals.
"Is he making any movements with his hands?" the prosecutor asked.
"He's making my hand go up and down," the victim said.
"How long do you think that goes on for?" the prosecutor asked.
"Like a minute," the victim said.
Bollo, who is a well known foot and ankle specialist, practiced in Broward County for more than a decade. Deputies said he admitted to the accusations and offered the babysitter $300 to not tell her parents.
"So that $300, where is it now?" the prosecutor asked.
"My mom has it like in a Ziploc bag somewhere, saved as evidence," the teen said.
"So you haven't spent that money yet?" the prosecutor asked.
"No," she said.
The defense also questioned the teen about why she kept the money and why it wasn't turned over to police.
"Except for saying, 'I need an apology. Tell me you're sorry,' you never really told him what you were expecting from him to be sorry for or to apologize for on that call, did you?" Bollo's attorney asked the teen.
"He said he was sorry for the whole situation," she said.
Detectives said Bollo has known the victim's family for many years.
If convicted of lewd and lascivious molestation, he could face up to 15 years in prison.