Miami-Dade reverend molested teen girl, deputies say

A reverend at a Miami-Dade church inappropriately touched and messaged a 15-year-old girl, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

On Feb. 9, deputies were alerted to a report that a molestation had occurred at Theophile Church, 15201 NW Seventh Ave., by Rev. Elco Vallier, 50.

The mother of a 15-year-old told deputies that she found messages between her daughter and Vallier in which he said he loved her and found her beautiful, according to his arrest warrant.

The girl admitted to her mother that Vallier had touched her and tried to kiss her many times since she was 13, according to the warrant.

The girl participated in a “controlled phone call” with Vallier as deputies listened in. Deputies say he never denied touching her, though what exactly he said during this phone call was heavily redacted in the warrant.

Deputies say Vallier, who lives in Loxahatchee, was arrested with the assistance of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. He was jailed on Feb. 12 in Palm Beach County, jail records show, but it is unclear if he has been extradited to Miami-Dade County.

He is set to be arraigned next month in Miami-Dade, records show. He is charged with three counts of lewd or lascivious molestation/conduct.

The church could not be immediately reached for comments.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said anyone with information or any parents who have children who might have come into contact with Vallie, to call investigators at 305-715-3300.