Music Teacher Arrested, Accused Of Sex With Minor
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A high school music teacher was arrested Friday, charged with 10 counts of unlawful sexual activity with a specified minor.
Christopher Scottlevin Best, 28, was a music teacher at Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
The victim, according to the arrest report, is a 17-year-old female student.
Police said the victim befriended Best, her music teacher, and that they "grew feelings" for each other—becoming boyfriend and girlfriend.
The victim told police, according to the report, that the two were intimate from September through March, engaging in sexual activity.
Best and the victim reportedly, on two separate occasions, engaged in sexual activity in the music room at Palmetto High School. She also told police that the two got together at "various motels" throughout Miami-Dade County.
Click here to watch CBS4 Oralia Ortega's report
During questioning, Best confessed to having a "private" relationship with the student. However, according to the report, he denied having sexual relations with her.
Best was arrested and was transported to Turner Guilford Knight Center.
No one came to the door when CBS4 News went to Best's home, nor were phone calls returned.
"It's inappropriate. He shouldn't have been doing it. 17. High school. It's completely inappropriate," said Eduardo Espinoza, who lives across the street, after hearing of Best's arrest.
Students at Miami Palmetto Senior High School said the news of the arrest spread quickly around school, but some say they were aware of the alleged relationship before the arrest.
"It was just common knowledge in the band room," said Sophia Pinto. She said Best is well-liked around school. "He's a really chill kind of person. It's shocking," she said.
Raul Vera added, "He's a really decent guy right when you start meeting him."
Both students said they consider any sexual relationship between a student and a teacher inappropriate.
"That should not happen, like, at all, ever," said Vera.
Investigators, like any other crime involving minors, are urging parents to speak with children to ensure they were not victimized by Best.
Miami-Dade Public Schools put out this statement, "The school district was immediately notified of the allegations and based on its clear policies governing staff and students, Mr. Best is no longer employed by Miami-Dade County Public Schools."
The district said Best was employed at Palmetto since 2012 and had not had any prior incidents.
