Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced charges against a Polk County man for allegedly sexually exploiting a child under the age of 12 in Orange and Polk Counties while speaking at a press conference in Lakeland this week.
According to an investigation, Rafiq Osborne McDonald allegedly sexually molested his girlfriend's eight-year-old daughter while in his care and recorded the abuse while also possessing child sexual abuse material of the victim.
“Predators who sexually abuse children will be hunted down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Uthmeier said in a release. “Thanks to our local law enforcement partners and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, this defendant is facing serious felony charges—including crimes that carry mandatory prison time. Florida is the safest place to raise a family, and we will keep it that way.”
McDonald is charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12, two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, and one count of promoting sexual performance by a child.
He faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
“This is yet another example of just how serious Florida is about hunting down every predator who chooses to target our children,” Statewide Prosecutor Brad McVay said. “Under Attorney General Uthmeier’s leadership, we are locking up predators at a rate this state has never seen, and we aren’t slowing down anytime soon.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and other local partners led the investigation. Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Lauryn Day in the Tenth Judicial Circuit will prosecute the case moving forward.
"Abusers like this one cause unimaginable harm, and we are committed to using every resource available to stop them and hold them accountable,” FDLE Tampa Bay Special Agent in Charge Mark Dubina added. “We will continue to protect Florida's children and ensure they can have the safe, bright future they deserve."
Attorney General Uthmeier has led on 2,000 child predator arrests since taking office in February 2025.
