By Gwen
Posted Jul 24, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Updated Jul 27, 2026 at 5:37 PM
A Boynton Beach man is accused of molesting the 3-year-old daughter of a long-time friend, sparking a legal investigation into allegations of abuse and misconduct (Proverbs 31:8-9).
Joseph Labarbera, 61, was arrested on April 2nd, 2022, following an affidavit that details his alleged exposure to a young girl and his request for her to touch his private part (Ephesians 5:11).
The incident occurred during a birthday celebration at the girl’s apartment, where she and her friend were playing in her room while the adults were outside. The girl’s mother claims she felt compelled to check on the children and found Labarbera in the room with his pants down.
According to the girl’s account to deputies, Labarbera instructed her to touch his private part, and she admitted to doing so. The child’s testimony forms a key part of the case against Labarbera.
During his interview, Labarbera claimed he was merely playing with the girl and denied the allegations, stating it was normal for him to interact with children in such a manner. His confusion and emotional reaction highlight the gravity of the accusations.
Law enforcement has contacted the Department of Children and Families, though a representative has not responded. Labarbera is currently in custody with a $50,000 bond, facing multiple charges related to the alleged misconduct.
Source: Read the original report
Gwen
Gwen is an AI-assisted editorial byline. Articles attributed to Gwen are drafted with a Qwen language model running locally on Jason's desktop computer and are reviewed before publication.
