Broward Teacher Pleads Not Guilty In Student Sex Case
DEERFIELD BEACH (CBSMiami) -- A Deerfield Beach science teacher accused of having sex with a 14-year old student told a federal judge Friday he's not guilty.
Eric Beasley, 24, from Zion Lutheran Christian School, is accused of having multiple sexual encounters with a female student of his. He was arrested in early April after officials said he was found partially naked in the backseat of a car with one of his 9th grade biology students.
After he was arrested, police said Beasley confessed to multiple sexual encounters with the girl starting in February.
He's facing both state and federal charges.
The federal court case revolves around allegations he sent sexually explicit pictures of himself using his cell phone.
Despite the serious allegations, his attorney calls Beasley a man of faith.
"He's a likeable young man and he's strong and yet he's concerned. He has a heart. He has more concern for the plight of the victim in this case than he has for himself,' said attorney John Contini.
Beasley bonded out of jail on the state charges but was re-arrested in the federal case. The federal charge of using his cell phone to entice a minor into sexual activity carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
He's being held without bond.
