Legal Question in Criminal Law in Florida

student-teacher relationship

I am 31 and have a 16 year old student (at a private academy) who is verbally/physically aggressively pursuing me. I have wrongfully allowed her to flirt with me, and I have at times said some things back to her. Recently, she grabbed my zipper and unzipped them, before she could touch me, I quickly zipped my pants back up, and left the room. I did not go to my administrator, bc I knew I would be fired bc I allowed the flirting. The next day, I told her to stay out of my classroom, and stop coming after me. She unzipped her pants to show me the front of her panties. I left the room and told my administrator. The next day, I resigned my position, b/c they were going to fire me b/c I let it go on (code of conduct).

I know I let things get out of control, but now I'm worried about accusations from this girl, if she's brazen enough to do those things, why not accuse me of something else? I did not touch her, nor did she touch my body. Do I have any legal worries from the flirting? Do I have any recourse to keep her away from me?


Asked on 2/13/07, 12:27 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Robert Roemer Robert Roemer

Re: student-teacher relationship

in short-yes-you have legal issues-I would advise you not to talk to anyone about this matter(except a attorney).It is my guess they will confront her about your statements.This could cause her to justify her position.If you would like

to talk to me call me at my office or send me an e-mail with the whole situation organized.

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Answered on 2/13/07, 4:30 pm
Richard Hornsby Richard E. Hornsby, P.A.

Re: student-teacher relationship

The bottom line is that there is clearly the possibility of false accusation. The majority of sex offense cases that I have handled have involved lying, vindictive, and deceitful complaintants. The State Attorney always pursues the charges, regardless of whether there are corroborating witnesses or other corroborating evidence. This means that an accusers word is enough to file charges against you.

I would highly recommend that you not only begin keeping a detailed log of your contact with her, who was present, what was said, circumstances, I would file a report with the police the next time she touches you without permission. It is a battery, even if you have put up with her flirting before. It will also put her on the defensive and make any future allegation look to be retalitory.

The possibility of losing your job is nothing comapred with the stigma associated with being accused of a sexual offense against a child, even if it is later shown to be unfounded. You need to not only get yourself out of the situation, you need to stop this in its tracks.

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Answered on 2/13/07, 12:33 pm


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