SUNRISE, Fla. – A teacher at Piper High School in Sunrise was arrested Monday on accusations that he exposed his penis to a 17-year-old student and touched and kissed her breast, authorities said.
Rafael Edgardo Guzman, 37, faces a charge of being an authority figure while soliciting or engaging in sexual conduct.
“That’s unacceptable. Throw him in prison,” one father, Joel Rosario, told Local 10 News outside the school on Tuesday. “Anything with minors is disgusting.”
According to his arrest report, Guzman told the teen to stay after class on Thursday, and when all of the other students had left the room ordered her to turn off the lights.
Police said Guzman and the teen then went into his office, which is located inside the classroom, and Guzman touched and kissed the girl’s breast before masturbating in front of her.
According to the report, Guzman then gave the student $100 and told her not to feel bad.
“I don’t think he should have hooked up with, like, a 17-year-old. I don’t know if he had a wife or something, or kids,” a student identified as Danny told Local 10 News Tuesday.
According to Guzman’s arrest report, he is, in fact, married, although the arrest report did not state whether he and his wife have children.
The school’s principal sent a voice message to parents Monday, advising them of the arrest and stating that “the safety of students and staff are my highest priority.”
Students said they were shocked by the news.
“It’s kind of shocking because I would have never thought it would happen here at Piper,” one student said.
Police said Guzman voluntarily went to the Sunrise Police Department Monday and confessed to kissing and touching the victim’s breast.
Authorities said he refused to speak further without an attorney present once he was read his Miranda warnings and told that he was being placed under arrest.
Broward County Public Schools officials confirmed that Guzman has worked at the school since August 2018.
He appeared in court Tuesday and posted a $50,000 bond. He was to be fitted for an ankle monitor before being released from jail.
A judge also ordered him not to return to the school.