Miami Teacher Charged With Molesting Former Student
Police: History teacher molested 14-year-old boy twice
A Miami high school history teacher was arrested yesterday and charged with molesting a 14-year-old former student, according to police.
Frank Matthew Galatas, 28, was arrested yesterday morning, accused of molesting the teen boy twice, once in his own house and once in the home the boy shares with his mother.
"The sad thing is, at the time, the victim's mother was a single parent and was looking for a role model for her child," said Jeff Giordano, with the Miami Police Department.
The first incident happened on Oct. 17, when Galatas spent the night at the boy's home.
"Apparently he was having marital problems and he called the victim's mother and he wanted a place to stay for the evening, this was one occasion," Giordano said.
A few days later, the 14-year-old spent the night at teacher's home at 800 N. Miami Ave. The boy reported both incidents to his mother, who in turn reported it to police.
Galatas was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious battery on a minor.
Galatas and the boy met two years ago, when the boy was a student in Galatas' classroom. Galatas has been working for the Miami-Dade public school system for the past year, most recently at Miami Southridge Senior High.
Galatas has been placed on alternate assignment away from students until the case is concluded.
"It's a possibility that there may be more students out there that this teacher befriended and they are potential victims out there," Giordano said.
Posted Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009 - 7:47 AM EST
