FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A 23-year-old man confessed to sexually abusing a girl at the charter school where he had worked for three years in Broward County, according to a police report.
Bryam Salas confessed after a social studies teacher at New Life Charter Academy, at 3550 Davie Boulevard, in Fort Lauderdale, reported the girl confided in her about the abuse, according to a police report.
Salas, of Port St. Lucie, told a detective with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department that he had sexually abused the girl — who he thought was about 8 years old — in a restroom while working as a janitor, according to police.
“I know what I did was wrong, but like at the same time I know I didn’t do something that’s drastic enough to ruin that little girl’s life, which I probably did, but not really to a point where I am like hurting her or wanting to hurt her,” Salas said during his confession late last year, according to police.
According to the arrest report, Salas told a detective that he met the New Life Charter Academy student in August, and months later “hugging” escalated to “tickling” and then to sexual abuse in September and October.
“Part of me hated doing it,” Salas said, according to police.
Salas said he was abusing the victim when two little girls walked into the restroom, according to police. He allegedly told the girls he was fixing a toilet and asked the three to go back to class, according to police.
The police investigation started on Nov. 6. Court records show Broward County Circuit Judge N. Hunter Davis issued a warrant for his arrest after prosecutors filed the first-degree felony case against him on March 19.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office inmate records, Salas was arrested on Thursday and correctional deputies were holding him at the Paul Rein Detention Facility on Friday night in Pompano Beach after he appeared in bond court.
Salas is facing two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim younger than 12, and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct. Correctional deputies held Salas without bond on the two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim younger than 12, and a judge set his bond for the lewd and lascivious conduct charge at $100,000.
Salas no longer works at the New Life Charter Academy.