A 53-year-old nanny from Broward is charged with molesting a 15-year-old boy after directing the teenager to touch her inappropriately while she was supposed to be taking care of him. According to NBC Miami, Catherine Ayala had a sexual encounter with the teen that a witness interrupted.
The Fort Lauderdale Police alleged that the incident took place in the kitchen, where Ayala seized the moment to involve the teen in the act. She is accused of placing the boy's hands on her breasts and then touching his genitals. This encounter reportedly lasted for about a minute before it was witnessed by another individual who walked into the room. The teen confirmed the encounter to investigators, leading to Ayala facing a charge for lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim 12 years of age or older but less than 16 years of age, as detailed by Local 10 News.
Records indicate that Catherine Paulette Ayala, who has been working with the family as both a nanny and a personal assistant for approximately two years, faces two felony counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a person older than 12 but younger than 16.
The affidavit states that the victim was getting ready for school when Ayala prompted him to approach her. "Police said the teen walked up to Ayala from behind and Ayala grabbed his hands and placed them on her bare breasts," according to Local 10 News. Ayala reportedly then began to touch the victim's genitals before the teen’s mother entered the kitchen and caught them. The incident, which occurred some time between October 2 and 20, 2023, wasn't reported to detectives until January of the following year. The mother also gave a sworn statement and expressed her desire to prosecute.
As of Monday, Ayala was not found in the jail database, suggesting she might have been released pending further proceedings. The case continues to unfold as authorities press charges and seek justice for the teen and his family.
