PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A Palm Beach County teacher was arrested Tuesday for sexual battery of a child.
According to the arrest report, Miguel Benavente, 57, a former teacher at Roosevelt Middle School, is accused of sexually assaulting a minor under 12 years old.
WATCH: Sheriff's office believes there are more victims
Investigators with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office say that while interviewing a former student who claimed Benavente sexually assaulted him multiple times between the ages of 9 and 14, and began grooming him when he was 7 years old, they discovered Benavente was under investigation for sexual battery on another student when he was a teacher at Roosevelt Middle School.
The victim in that case told investigators Benavente sexually assaulted him at his residence when he was 14, and that it was reported to School Board District Police in 2000. Investigators confirmed Benavente was a teacher at the school when the victim was in seventh and eighth grade grade.
PBSO says while they investigated those claims in 2000, the statute of limitations has expired.
The report says the more recent victim, who initially knew Benavente as a family friend, told investigators he was a "monster" and said he remembers him "bringing other students" from Roosevelt Middle School to the house where the abuse occurred.
The report notes that Benavente would use "school work as an excuse to bring the kids to his house." It also notes both victims, who don't know each other, had similar stories and were both made to watch pornographic movies with Benavente.
Digging into his background, WPTV uncovered a video posted on the Palm Beach County School District’s Facebook page, where Benavente was featured in 2017 and listed as a medical sciences specialist plus administrator. Benavente expressed his connection to the community in the video, stating, "I'm a product of Palm Beach County public schools."
In the video posted on Facebook, it shows that in 2002, Benavente was named Teacher of the Year — just two years after the victim from 2000 made his allegations. The recent victim claims he was still being assaulted during that time frame.
James Phillips, CEO of Above and a therapist, emphasized the importance of reporting such abuse even years later, stating, "Reporting the abuse is the only way we stop that cycle."
Based off the arrest report, Phillips stressed the importance of parental involvement in preventing abuse, saying, "If my 13-year-old daughter tells me I'm going to a teacher's house to study after school, no, you will not be."
He emphasized that involved parents and communities are critical to preventing such incidents. "The enemy of them is an involved parent and an involved community," Phillips said.
Phillips also noted that abuse from authority figures is an issue that many children face.
"That authority means a lot in the classroom, that authority means a lot everywhere else," he said.
However, that authority does not hold in the courtroom, where a judge denied Benavente bond Wednesday morning. He faces charges of sexual battery on a victim under 12 years old.
PBSO says it believes there are other victims, and is seeking information. They ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.
A spokesperson for the School District of Palm Beach County sent WPTV this statement regarding Benavente:
The School District of Palm Beach County is aware of the arrest of Dr. Miguel Benavente. We hold our employees to the highest ethical standards, and the alleged behavior represents a violation of the trust placed in all School District employees. These charges are contrary to the core values of our School District and the high standards of professional and ethical conduct we require.
The safety and security of our students is our absolute top priority. Upon learning of these allegations, the School District took immediate action to remove Dr. Benavente from his position. He is placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the criminal investigation and our own internal review. He will have no access to any school campus and no contact with students.
The District is cooperating fully with the law enforcement investigation. As this is an active criminal matter, we are unable to provide further details at this time. We encourage anyone with information relevant to this investigation to contact the School District Police Department at (561) 434-8700.
