A Port St. Lucie man who worked at a juvenile detention facility was arrested after being accused of engaging in  inappropriate behavior with a minor.
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Demetrio Quinones, 43, was charged with lewd or lascivious touching of a victim 16 or 17 years old by a person 24 years of age or older and lewd or lascivious written solicitation of a victim 16 or 17 years old by a person 24 years of age or older.
According to West Palm Beach Police, on Dec. 2, 2025, officers started their investigation into acts that occurred from July 24, 2025, to Oct. 9, that involved Quinones and the 17-year-old victim.
An arrest report said that a witness, who is a youth at the detention center, found a letter in a folder that had sexually explicit content that was made towards the victim.
When investigators spoke with the victim, she told them that Quinones would talk to her and she would open up to him about her personal struggles, the report said. As they continued to talk, the victim said their interactions would become more sexual, with Quinones writing and typing notes on his computer and giving her notes.
The victim, the report said, then started getting uncomfortable with rejecting his advances because he was more “powerful” than her.
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Several instances of unwanted touching occurred between Quinones and the victim, and the victim wrote him a letter telling him they should keep things professional and that she wasn’t comfortable with what was happening, the report said.
During one instance, the report said, Quinones grabbed the victim’s hand and made her touch him.
Quinones was told that there was an investigation on Oct. 14 for allegations that were unrelated to the victim, and he was placed on administrative duty with no access to the youth, the report said. Six days later, staff saw the letter, and on Oct. 22, Quinones resigned from his position.
Eight months after he resigned, Quinones was arrested.
Detectives believe there are more victims.
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice released the following statement:
“The Department of Juvenile Justice is aware of the arrest of a former detention center employee and is deeply disturbed by the allegations against him. The Department of Juvenile Justice is fully cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues. The safety and security of the youth in our care remain our highest priority, and we have zero tolerance for misconduct that jeopardizes their well-being. If these allegations are proven, we hope that this individual is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
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