Weston Podiatrist Sentenced To 51 Months In Prison For Molesting Teen Babysitter
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WESTON (CBSMiami) – Back in court – wearing jail blues, not scrubs – a South Florida foot doctor was sentenced Friday for molesting his family's babysitter.
Podiatrist Augustine Bollo mouthed a "hello" to his family before he listened as the young woman he was convicted of molesting described how her life changed forever when she was 15.
"It was inconceivable to me, as a 15-year-old girl, that a 45-year-old man could molest someone I've known for several years with his own children in the room," she said. "He violated me in a way that no 15-year-old girl should girl through."
At Bollo's trial, prosecutors played a surveillance video where he seemingly apologizes to the 15-year-old's mother
"There were so many times I wanted to give up, but I couldn't knowing he needed to be in jail," the teen said on the stand. "I will always be more alert and less carefree."
A jury of nine men and women first heard the now 19-year-old victim tell her side of the story about what happened on the night in April 2012 at Bollo's Weston home.
The teen testified that her family and Bollo's family were friends for years. She said she was babysitting while the two women went out and after Bollo returned home, he sat next to her on the couch with the four kids in the living room.
"He told one of the kids to get him a blanket," the victim testified, saying Bollo put the blanket over her and him and took her hand and placed it on his private parts.
She said Bollo later gave her $300.
"He says, like, 'Hide it and don't tell your parents,'" the teen testified.
Bollo tried to discredit the babysitter's family as money hungry, saying he consistently helped them financially, including thousands of dollars in medical treatment.
He also attempted to paint the teenager as promiscuous and said his children never liked her because she ignored them.
In the end, however, the jury sided with the young girl.
On Monday, the judge sentenced Bollo to 51 months, a little more than four years, in state prison.
Bollo's supporters, his family, including his parents, asked the judge for mercy.
Bollo said he's a changed man.
"This experience has taught me to further appreciate my life through the teachings of the bible and the word of God," he said.
His lawyer also had a hearing Monday afternoon to get Bollo released on bond while his sentence is on appeal. The judge said he'll decide on that later in the week.
