Cases of sexual abuse within the student community grow before the indignant gaze of society. It is a drama that keeps parents and authorities under constant surveillance, although many of these incidents are kept quiet by the victims.
At South Miami Middle School, located at 6750 SW 60th St, outrage reigns over the recent police investigation that concluded in the abuse of a former teacher identified as Mauricio Alexander Ruiz, 29 years old. The teacher is accused of relating to a 13-year-old student whom he taught in 2021.
Although two years have passed since the event, the testimonies of classmates of the unidentified minor were decisive for the School Police of Miami-Dade. They reported that Ruiz and his then-student were related when he was a sixth grade math teacher.
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It all started when a friend of Ruiz asked the minor for friendship through the social network Instagram. Through this means they exchanged messages, some of which became more and more risqué. The then-teacher took control of the conversation and began requesting intimate photos from the teenager, even making some payments in exchange for them.
The police report referred to the money that Ruiz sent to the minor through the Cash App platform, very popular in the United States and the United Kingdom for sending payments via cell phone. Not only did she request racy images, but she also sent him naked photos.
29-year-old Mauricio Ruiz was arrested at Thomas Jefferson High School. Photo: Miami-Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation
Teacher made him believe he was in love
The investigations by the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department also referred to the romantic relationship between teacher Ruiz and his then-student. The teenager was interviewed about it and admitted that she had feelings towards her tutor, although he also took advantage of the situation in the classroom.
Ruiz asked the student on several occasions to sit at the end of the room and next to him to give her private classes. However, she was dedicated to touching her legs and thighs. He also proposed meetings outside her house and admitted her “love.”
The defendant was arrested on December 8 while teaching classes at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, located at 525 NW 147th St. He was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and shortly after released after paying bail set at $7,500.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools confirmed Ruiz’s dismissal and rejected the abuse with a strong statement. “Conduct such as that of which the employee is accused will not be tolerated. As such, his employment with the district has been terminated and the individual cannot seek future employment in Miami-Dade County Public Schools,” Local 10 cited.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools rejected the case of student abuse at South Miami Middle School. Photo: South Miami Middle School
2023-12-11 23:20:44
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