Charges Dropped Against Music Teacher Accused of Sex With Student

A South Florida music teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student won't face charges, according to a closeout memorandum from the State Attorney's office.

According to the memo, the 17-year-old girl and her family have on multiple occasions refused to cooperate with the investigation despite warnings that they all could potentially be held in contempt of court.

The memo indicates that the victim’s parents “did not want to go forward with this case and they did not want charges to be filed."

Christopher Scottlevin Best, 28, was arrested in March on 10 counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, Miami-Dade Police officials said.

According to the arrest report, the teen girl befriended Best beginning in September and they started dating. She initially told police that during their nine-month relationship, they had sex at least 10 times, including in the music room at Miami Palmetto Senior High School where Best taught and the victim was a student, the affidavit said.

They also had sex at various motels throughout Miami-Dade, the report said.

Best was released after posting $75,000 bond. Miami-Dade Public Schools also released a statement saying Best had been fired.

When detectives questioned Best, he admitted to having a "private" boyfriend and girlfriend relationship with the girl but denied having sex with her, the report said.

Best's lawyer also insists that the victim and Best never had sex.

The memo goes on to say that the victim will soon turn 18, and there "really isn't anything that the police or the Department of Children and Families can do against the parents" and that the only evidence against Best is a "hearsay statement of the victim to the police."

Best did not show up for today's court proceedings.

"He was accused of very serious charges where he faced a lot of prison time," his attorney, Kristi Cassebaum said. "His picture was placed all over the news and in the paper and it's been very traumatic for him that's why he's not here this morning."

In closing the case, the State attorney's office, also said in part, "Hopefully, the defendant will never be allowed to work in the teaching profession again."

But, Best plans to go back to teaching somewhere.

"Not that he's likely to go back to Palmetto, but that he would like to be a teacher," Cassebaum said. "That's his true desire to be a teacher."