Coral Springs officer accused of soliciting a child for sex
CORAL SPRINGS — A Coral Springs police officer who worked as a school watchman has been arrested on charges of soliciting sex acts from a child who was described as a longtime family friend, authorities say.
Steven Daniello, 63, who worked as a school resource officer for Westchester Elementary School, began talking with the child online in September, according to the Broward Sheriff ’s Office. The child described Daniello as a family friend, the agency said.
In the conversations, Daniello offered to “pay the victim for nude photos, and Daniello and the victim discussed the victim performing sexual acts on
Daniello,” according to the Sheriff ’s Office.
An undercover detective, posing as the child, then began talking to Daniello. As Daniello spoke with the undercover detective, he wanted “the victim to perform oral sex on him,” the Sheriff ’s Office said.
Detectives arrested Daniello on Monday on two counts of soliciting a minor to engage in sexual conduct. Detectives also obtained a search warrant for Daniello’s electronic devices. Additional information about the investigation weren’t detailed in a three-page warrant.
On Tuesday afternoon, while still in jail, Daniello received notice he would be terminated from his job,
Deputy Police Chief Brad McKeone said.
“We didn’t want to wait,” McKeone said.
The alleged crimes do not involve any students at the school, he said. Daniello, who is paid $57,768 a year, has been an officer with the agency since 2017, coming from the Coconut Creek Police Department before then, McKeone said.
“I’m disappointed for law enforcement,” McKeone said. “This is concerning and upsetting to us.”
Daniello’s defense attorney, Jeremy Kroll, declined comment. Daniello was scheduled to be released on $60,000 bond late Tuesday afternoon.