Ex-West Miami Middle School teacher accused of illicit relationship with student
MIAMI - An investigation into an illicit relationship between a teacher and a 13-year-old female student has led to charges against a former teacher at West Miami Middle School.
Authorities identified that former teacher as twenty-nine-year-old Mauricio Alexander Ruiz.
Police said Ruiz befriended the victim over her Instagram account and that the relationship escalated to video calls, sending of explicit photos, and receiving money via Cashapp in exchange for pictures.
The victim told police Ruiz had sent her $50 in exchange for photos.
The investigation led police to Ruiz's current place of employment at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Miami, on Friday, December 8, where he was arrested and placed in handcuffs.
Ruiz was interviewed by detectives and confirmed he was the victim's math teacher at West Miami Middle School.
CBS News Miami has learned Ruiz is no longer employed by the school district.
Here is what Miami-Dade County public schools had to say:
"Miami-Dade County Public Schools is deeply troubled by the disturbing allegations made against this individual. After a thorough investigation by the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department and, as per the State Attorney's Office, the individual was subsequently arrested. Conduct such as the one the employee is accused of will not be tolerated. As such, his employment with the District has been terminated and the individual is precluded from seeking future employment with Miami-Dade County Public Schools."
Bond was set at $7,500.
