A Miami-Dade father is behind bars after, investigators say, his teenage daughter came forward about years of sexual abuse that began when she was a child. Detectives say the girl first reported the alleged abuse at age 14 and is now 15.
According to WSVN, the Miami-Dade Police Department's Special Victims Bureau arrested 46-year-old Joan Cornelio, who now faces multiple felony charges tied to sexual misconduct involving a minor. Investigators told reporters the teen disclosed the allegations to police in October 2025, and that her mother confirmed the girl's identity during the investigation.
The arrest report states that Cornelio denied the accusations but admitted he would play a “game” with the victim before invoking his right to an attorney, WSVN reported. Detectives interviewed him after advising him of his rights, according to that report.
Arrest and booking
On Monday evening, Cornelio went to the Special Victims Bureau's Sexual Crimes Investigations Unit, where officers took him into custody. A public booking log lists a Joan Cornelio in Dade County custody that night, per Dade County booking logs, and county corrections records show he was processed at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center for booking.
Legal status and next steps
Booking records and local coverage state that Cornelio is being held pending a bond hearing and faces multiple felony counts. Formal charging documents were not immediately available. Under Florida law, lewd or lascivious offenses against minors are prosecuted as serious felonies, with penalties that depend on the specific charge and the victim's age; see Florida statute 800.04 for details.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Miami‑Dade Crime Stoppers at 305‑471‑TIPS, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1‑800‑962‑2873, or reach the Special Victims Bureau at 305‑715‑3300 for assistance. Victim services and counseling referrals are available through county and state victim‑witness programs.
