Child therapist accused of abusing boy, 5, at southwest Miami-Dade clinic

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A child occupational therapist is accused of abusing a 5-year-old boy during a therapy session at a clinic in the Three Lakes neighborhood of southwest Miami-Dade, investigators said.

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Jail records show Leonardo Daniel Rivas, 42, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm.

Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said the boy was attending his daily occupational therapy session at Florida Kids Therapy Medley at 13335 SW 124th St. on Thursday when Rivas, who was serving as his occupational therapist, “squeezed the victim’s cheeks together” and repeatedly forced a speech therapy device known as a Whisper Phone into the victim’s mouth, “covering his mouth several times.”

An arrest report states that the boy became upset, after which Rivas “began holding the victim down forcefully to the chair” and “firmly pushed the victim’s legs down.”

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Investigators said the boy suffered “numerous abrasions” to both shoulder blades and his chest. According to the report, he was treated for his injuries at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Authorities later arrested Rivas, who told investigators he did not want to speak with them without an attorney present, the report states.

As of Wednesday morning, Rivas was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed as “to be set.”

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Local 10 has requested a statement from the clinic following Rivas’ arrest.