Suspect Arrested in Staten Island Molestation Case

A man believed to have molested a 14-year-old girl on Staten Island has been taken into custody, according to law enforcement officials. The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Lawman D. Venable, allegedly lured the girl into a five-mile taxi ride from a bus stop, making unsettling promises about a “good life” and groping her during the incident. He was arrested on Monday.

Venable, who has a lengthy criminal record with 20 previous arrests, faces several charges, including attempted kidnapping, forcible touching, and child endangerment. These charges stem from what prosecutors described as a disturbing encounter that occurred over the weekend.

As per the allegations, Venable approached the girl outside the Empire Outlets in St. George around 9 a.m. and physically stopped her from attempting to board an MTA bus. He then took her to a nearby deli and reportedly told her, “I want to teach you many things and give you a good life.” This, understandably, must have been alarming for the girl.

After that unsettling exchange, Venable is accused of kissing her hand and saying, “You look beautiful.” The girl, understandably panicked, repeatedly requested to leave, but Venable insisted she stay. In fact, he tried convincing her not to board the bus and even offered to take her to a private tutoring session instead.

During the taxi ride, things escalated further. Venable allegedly placed his hand on the girl’s thigh while stating, “It’s okay, I want to show you the house,” a comment that likely raised even more red flags. Despite her persistent attempts to escape, he refused to let her out.

Upon reaching the apartment in Port Richmond, which is about eight miles from where the ordeal began, Venable invited her inside, claiming he just wanted to show her the house. He is also accused of inappropriately touching her outside of the taxi without consent. The girl eventually managed to escape and seek help.

Venable, seen wearing a bright blue, yellow, and red jacket, had been eluding authorities for two days before being discovered while drinking on the street. When police approached him on Victory Boulevard around 10 a.m. on Monday, he was found to have vodka, cocaine, and heroin in his possession.

In his admission to officers, Venable acknowledged he was “wanted for child abduction” and expressed embarrassment over the situation. He explained, “I met her on the ferry, and I didn’t know she was like that. We were flirting. I knew she was.”

Intriguingly, Venable does not reside in the building where the incident took place, telling investigators it was “a place where I take women.” Following his arrest, he was held on $75,000 bail or $150,000 cash bail, as set by the Staten Island State Attorney’s Office.

This isn’t Venable’s first run-in with the law; his previous arrest occurred in August 2025 for boarding a Staten Island bus without paying. His criminal history dates back to March 2000 with charges of grand larceny.