A popular Florida youth track coach is under investigation after two of the athletes he coached came forward with allegations of sexual battery and rape.
Darius Tremayne Lawshea, 45, coach of Miami Gardens Xpress, was arrested Sunday by Miami Gardens Police on multiple counts of sexual battery on a minor and of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child between 12 and 16 years old.
Now 24, Lawshea’s accuser says she came forward after learning that her former coach had molested her 16-year-old sister, according to the local ABC affiliate.
The accuser told police that Lawshea was known as “Coach D,” and that he had assaulted her three times when she was on his track team.
Lawshea is being held without bond for the first charge and $7,500 bond each for the two counts in the second charge.
In 2018, Lawshea made news after a 33-year-old man threatened him with a gun while he was leading a prayer circle with more than 00 of his team after they returned from a meeting in Orlando.
Lawshea later met with parents of the team to assure them their children were safe in his program.
As of Wednesday, another two athletes have come forward, claiming they were also molested by Lawshea.
