A private school teacher at Gulliver Preparatory in Miami was charged Friday with sexual battery for allegedly touching one of his former students inappropriately, according to the state attorney's office.
“This is good news,” Hector Lans, who is the father of one of the girls, was quoted as saying in The Miami Herald. “I just want this guy stopped from abusing other children. He’s a sexual predator.”
Richard Diaz, 36, was previously fired when two other students said they had sexual relations with him, but he will not be prosecuted because one girl recanted her statement and the other decided not to prosecute.
“I will tell you that not once in the past year and a half did I feel victimized by this man,” the girl wrote to prosecutors. “In telling you this I beg of you to see that this is something spoken purely from me and with no outside influences, namely Mr. Richard Diaz.”
In December, a student told Pinecrest Police that Diaz touched her inappropriately while consoling her about a death in her family, according to a memo from the assistant state attorney.
“The teacher was immediately terminated by the school, as called for in the school’s policies and in his employment contract,” the school said in a statement. “Our primary duty is the safety and protection of the students at Gulliver. We will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities as we have throughout this investigation.”
Diaz's attorney Justin Beckman said that his client wants to move on.
“This investigation has been going on for a long time, and he and his family are looking forward to putting this behind them,” Beckman was quoted as saying.
Diaz is still certified to teach English through 2016, according to the state attorney.
