Bugle Miami

Miami Lakes teacher accused of touching female students, one during chess club meeting

MIAMI LAKES, Fla. – A South Florida teacher is under arrest after he is accused of inappropriately touching two female students, one in the midst of a chess club meeting, according to the arrest report.

Jossie Calderon, Jr., 27, a teacher at Barbara Goleman Senior High School, was taken into custody Friday, Nov. 12, after two reports that allegedly took place inside the school.

On Nov. 1, a 15-year-old student told the school’s counselor that during a chess club meeting Calderon rubbed her on the lower back and buttocks, according to the arrest report.

She said this was the second time Calderon touched her. The first time was at the end of September 2021 when the teacher touched the girl’s legs, she told the counselor.

The student said, according to the report: “It was not a tap, instead, the offender placed his hand on the victim’s legs and left his hand there for several moments.” The report says he “touched the victim’s thighs and left his hand there for an extended period of time causing the victim to feel uncomfortable.” The report goes on to say that he touched the victim’s “buttocks over her clothes, caressing her.”

A video obtained from the school confirmed the student’s allegations, according to the arrest report.

On Nov. 5, a second student, a 16-year-old girl, reported to the school’s resource officer that she was molested by Calderon during a math tutoring class.

The student said two incidents happened on separate occasions while she was in Calderon’s class seeking extra credit for math class.

“(He) approached her from the rear and introduced his right hand under her sweater by the neck area.” The victim said Calderon “softly rubbed on her back.”

The first allegation happened as early as September, but neither of the incidents were reported until the first week of November. Both victims are seeking professional help for mental trauma, according to the report.

Calderon, a resident of Miami, was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior on a child 12 to 16 years old, two counts of offenses against students by authority figures, two counts of child abuse with no great bodily harm, and a charge of battery.

Local 10 News confirmed that Calderon was released after posting bail that totaled $21,500. Calderon will have to appear in court to face charges at a later date.

According to Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ (M-DCPS) district, Calderon was originally employed in 2016 but left the District in 2017. He returned on Aug. 25, 2021 and was employed on a probationary basis. A spokesperson said he was reassigned out of the classroom when the allegations claim to light. Now that he’s been arrested, M-DCPS said Calderon has been fired.

M-DCPS released this statement to Local 10 News:

“Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) does not take lightly claims of impropriety involving employees. As soon as allegations were reported in this case, M-DCPS reassigned the probationary employee to a non-school site location and worked with Miami-Dade Schools Police to launch an investigation. As a result of the arrest, the individual’s employment with the District has been terminated and he will be prevented from seeking future work with M-DCPS. The District will continue to train our workforce to emphasize the ethical and professional behavior that is expected of them.”

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