A 29-year-old female science teacher at a Miami, Florida high school was arrested last month for allegedly having sexual relations with a 16-year-old male student.
The woman, charged with three counts of having sex with a minor, has since been released on bond, according to the Miami Herald.
According to police, the woman supposedly admitted to having sex with the student, now 17, starting in August 2009 and continuing through 2010.
The woman allegedly told investigators she gave the student cash and a cellphone that she used to supposedly send racy text messages and photos of herself nude or wearing sexy lingerie.
The teacher and the student supposedly had sex in three locations, including the high school where the teacher worked and the parking lot of a middle school. Police did not share the third location.
The Florida Department of Children and Family Services supposedly started investigating the situation between teacher and student after receiving a tip from an anonymous source.
The woman was hired by the Miami-Dade school district in 2007, according to a spokesman for the district. The spokesman said that the district will work towards a speedy termination due to the recent events involving the teacher.
The fact that the teacher supposedly confessed to illegal behavior with her student will most likely be used against her by the prosecution. It is important when facing allegations of sex with a minor, to only discuss the case with a Florida Sex Crimes Defense Attorney because anything you say to investigators could be used against you. Law enforcement agents are not on your side; rather, they are merely concerned with finding incriminating evidence and obtaining a confession of guilt. The same can be said for prosecutors, who are only looking for a conviction. If this woman is convicted of having sex with a minor, she will no longer be able to hold a job position as a teacher.
Florida law is quite strict when it comes to offenses related to sex with a minor. Depending on facts specific to the case, being accused of sex with a minor can result in several different charges, including molestation, sexual assault, statutory rape and more. Any charges pertaining to sex with a minor carry strict consequences if convicted, such as mandatory sex offender registration as well as imprisonment. Registration as a sexual offender can affect your employment status as well as your standing with your friends, peers and neighbors.
Your legal defense plays a vital role in the outcome of your case. An experienced defense lawyer can evaluate your unique case and determine what the best course of action is, which could mean negotiating with prosecutors or taking your case to trial. The Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton have extensive knowledge regarding prosecutorial procedures and may be able to find foibles in the case against you, which could result in all allegations against you being dismissed or reduced. Likewise, there is also a possibility of getting crucial evidence against you suppressed through court hearings.
If you have been accused of having sex with a minor in Miami or throughout the state of Florida, contact the Florida Sex Crimes Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton online or call our Miami office toll-free at 866-608-5529.