A Southfield man has been charged after two children under the age of 10 came forward with allegations of criminal sexual Conduct.
Lawrence Edward Miles, 69, a family member of the victims, is facing three counts of First-Degree CSC and two counts of Second-Degree CSC. The charges stem from incidents that allegedly took place between 2024 and 2025, while the children—a boy and a girl—were in his care at a residence in Southfield.
The report was made to Southfield police on May 3. The parents of the two children contacted authorities, stating that their daughter had been assaulted by Miles. According to Southfield police chief Elvin Barren, the young boy, displaying courage, informed his mother about the inappropriate touching of his sister, despite the suspect saying that if they spoke out, they would not be allowed to visit him again.
“I’m going to commend the young boy because he knew. He knew something was wrong. He didn’t like how his sister was being handled and made sure that the information moved forward to the parents, Southfield police chief said.
The children were brought to CareHouse for forensic interviews, where they provided detailed accounts of the abuse. Chief Barren noted during the press conference that the manipulation by predators often includes games, humor, and touching to gain children’s trust while masking their deviant behavior.
A tactical crime suppression unit arrested Miles at his Southfield residence on May 7 without incident. He is currently being held in custody.
During the press conference, Chief Barren disclosed that Miles previously worked as an educator in Kansas, Illinois, and Georgia. Authorities are now notifying officials in those states to investigate potential past incidents.
While Miles does not have a known criminal history, Chief Barren emphasized that this may simply be the first time he has been caught.
Authorities also believe that another family member may come forward with details of possible past assaults. The investigation is ongoing.
