Carlos Augusto Esparsa jailed for letting girl, 9, drive in Miramar, police say

A 34-year-old man is jailed in Broward and accused of letting a 9-year-old girl drive a car, according to court records.

Carlos Augusto Esparsa was arrested in Miramar on Sunday after a neighbor reported seeing the vehicle swerving and the child driving the wrong way on the 13400 block of Southwest 22nd Street in the Monarch Lakes community, records showed.

Miramar Police arrived at the 2400 block of SW 134th Avenue to find Esparsa in the front passenger seat and the child in the back seat. The report noted it looked as if the girl had jumped from the driver's seat into the back.

During police questioning, Esparsa said he was babysitting his girlfriend's daughter. The girl said it was the first time she had ever driven the car, the report stated.

Esparsa was charged with child abuse and permitting an unauthorized person to drive. Bond was set at $2,500 but Esparsa was also on an immigration hold.