{"id":204455,"date":"2026-03-24T21:04:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T21:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/204455\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T21:04:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T21:04:21","slug":"miami-gardens-track-coach-convicted-of-sexually-assaulting-13-year-old-sentenced-to-50-years-in-prison-victims-mother-speaks-out-wsvn-7news-miami-news-weather-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/204455\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami Gardens track coach convicted of sexually assaulting 13-year-old sentenced to 50 years in prison; victim\u2019s mother speaks out – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) – A Miami Gardens track coach accused of crossing the line<\/a> with a 13-year-old student athlete was sentenced to 50 years in state prison and 10 years of probation.<\/p>\n

The sentencing of Darius Lawshea was handed out at a Miami courtroom, early Tuesday afternoon. Lawshea, the founder of the Miami Gardens Express track club pled not guilty.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you pleading guilty because you are in fact guilty or you believe this plea is in your best interest?\u201d said Judge Andrea Ricker Wolfson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not guilty,\u201d said Lawshea. <\/p>\n

\u201cWell then, I\u2019m not accepting the plea,\u201d Wolfson responded.<\/p>\n

Lawshea refused a plea deal for six outstanding cases against him.<\/p>\n

This all stems from an incident where, prosecutors said, the 50-year-old used this authority to sexually assault the victim.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe destroyed a lot of young girl\u2019s lives,\u201d said Tracey Mills, the victim\u2019s mother. \u201cIt was really horrible that he was not taking accountability for what he actually did, he did not show any remorse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mills appeared in court as Lawshea spoke about his innocence, as he refused to admit any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would never do anything to hurt her,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

While other victims came forward<\/a> following his arrest in 2020, the sentence was given in connection to the 13-year-old girl.<\/p>\n

Before a jury found him guilty in February, Lawshea\u2019s defense attorney said this case was built on inconsistencies, with the testimony of the victims supposedly evolving and changing over time.<\/p>\n

However, prosecutors argued that Lawshea, known in the community as \u201cCoach D,\u201d used his authority and stature as a community leader when he took advantage of the girls he was coaching.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause the fact that he has no remorse shows that he could not be rehabilitated,\u201d said a prosecutor.<\/p>\n

Lawshea faced charges of sexual abuse of a child and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Lawshea engaged in some of the most egregious manipulation of a vulnerable young girl. Quite frankly, it sickens me,\u201d said Wolfson.<\/p>\n

Lawshea also faces charges in six other cases as well. Those cases have yet to go to trial.<\/p>\n

Back in June of 2012, a mother had told police<\/a> that she felt communication between the coach and her teenage daughter was out of line, and that\u2019s when she alerted authorities.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear whether or not Lawshea\u2019s attorneys plan to appeal this sentence.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n

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