A 28-year-old teacher at High School in Pembroke Pines was arrested on charges that he has been in a “sexual relationship” with a 17-year-old girl at his school since December, authorities said.
High school teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a student
According to his arrest report, Philip Gerald Velez, from Hollywood, confessed to having sex several times with the teenager and told the police that he considered her his girlfriend.
He also said they had talked about how it was wrong for them to be together because of the victim’s age, according to the report.
Hollywood police said they were notified Saturday by the victim’s father, who was informed by her eldest daughter that the teenager had been acting suspiciously in recent weeks and that her cell phone tracker found her in an apartment complex in Hollywood.
According to the arrest report, the officers asked Velez if he knew where the teenager was and he told them that his girlfriend was inside the apartment.
Police said the teenager told officers that she and Velez were having sex when officers knocked on the door.
According to the arrest report, Velez and the victim met in November at a school fundraiser. Vélez is reportedly an assistant basketball coach and teaches culinary arts.
Police said the teenager told them that they had sent several messages before meeting outside the school a few times to speak in person.
He said he finally went to his apartment in late December and that’s when they started having a sexual relationship, authorities said.
Vélez was arrested on charges of sexual assault of a minor and soliciting sexual conduct with a student while he was an authority figure.
