Broward Doctor Arrested On Molestation Charge

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Broward County Sheriff's Office arrested a Broward podiatrist Wednesday and charged him with lewd and lascivious molestation of a girl who was babysitting at his house.

Augustine Bollo, 45, was arrested Wednesday and made his first appearance in court Thursday morning. The crime allegedly happened in April.

According to the arrest report, Bollo allegedly "put a blanket over them both as they sat on the sofa then took her hand and placed it on his penis and begged her to masturbate him."

BSO said Bollo then took the girl upstairs and gave her $300.00 and told her not to tell her parents. BSO said Bollo allegedly admitted to the victim and her mother and apologized to them.

Bollo is a board-certified surgeon who specializes in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. Bollo is a father and has three children. A biography of Bollo on a medical website says Bollo is involved in the community as youth sports coach.
The mother of the accuser spoke Thursday evening at the law office of attorney Jeffrey Herman.

She said her family has known Bollo for 9 years and her daughter began babysitting for Bollo in September. The mother said when her daughter told her what happened it was a complete shock.

"There is no words to express how you feel when your child is hurt," she said. "The pain is as if it happened to you only 1,000 times worse."

Michael Gottlieb is representing Bollo. He told CBS 4 News that his client is innocent. Gottlieb believes the accuser and her mother are trying to extort money from Bollo.

"There's no proof at all," Gottlieb told CBS 4's Carey Codd. "It's a he said, she said. It's a travesty. His reputation is soiled."

The Broward Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the case. Detectives say if anyone has information on the case they should call the Broward Sheriff's Office.