Former West Palm Beach Catholic School Teacher on Trial for Sex Crimes Against Students

Prosecutors allege that a 53-year-old former West Palm Beach Catholic school teacher sexually abused two former students when they were 9-year-old students in his classroom during the 2006-07 school year.

Both of the females are recent high school graduates.

The prosecution claims the teacher used a popular classroom reward system called “Budd Bucks” or candy to reward his alleged student victims for sexual acts. The crimes allegedly occurred under the teacher’s desk at the Catholic school.

Despite the prosecution having any solid evidence, such as DNA, to prove the crimes actually happened, they claim that the teacher would move the girls’ underwear to the side and touch their vaginal areas as well as masterbate while the two girls sat under his desk.

The man is charged with two counts of sexual battery on a person less than 12 years of age, one count of lewd or lascivious molestation and two counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition.

The trial against the man continues Friday. The jury will hear more than two hours of recorded phone calls between the man and his accusers two years ago.

West Palm Beach police arranged the calls, and during this chats, the girls threaten to go to the authorities unless he apologized.

According to reports, the man said he was sorry about how they were feeling but did not confess to the claims that he touched their vaginas or any other inappropriate acts.

The man has no prior criminal history. Before his arrest, he was teaching adult students in Boynton Beach.

A criminal conviction can be devastating, carrying very serious penalties, such as fines or jail time, along with a lifetime of a criminal record. The consequences of a criminal allegation as well as a conviction are even more devastating when they arise from false allegations. Despite having our modern criminal justice system, DNA evidence, advanced investigative tools, and the bar of proof being “beyond a reasonable doubt,” defendants in Florida and across the United States are falsely accused and convicted of crimes every single day.

In addition to false allegations, defendants may also face wrongful convictions due to failures in the criminal justice system. The prosecution may push a case forward without having sufficient evidence. Political motivations can strongly sway prosecutors to move a case along, even if there is no evidence to support it. If you are accused of a sex crime, you need an experienced defense attorney who can explore all defense options in your case.

If you have been arrested in West Palm Beach or the surrounding areas, please call a South Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation.