South Broward High's Band Director Accused Of Having Sex With Teen Student

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HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) - The former band director at South Broward High School was arrested for reportedly having a sexual relationship with a student.

Ricardo Esquilin, 28, is accused of having sexual relations with the 17-year-old girl in the back office of the band room, his car, at a drive-in movie and at both of their respective homes when no one was there, according to his arrest report.

"It's disturbing, you know, I didn't think he would do this to students," said South Broward High student Amy Garcia. "He was nice."

"He was nice. He was a good teacher actually, a good music teacher. I wasn't really like that, I don't like teachers in general but he was a good teacher," said student Angelee Kimball

12th grader Michael Rodriguez told CBS4'S Peter D'Oench, "It just shows you that anywhere people can be predators and you don't know it. I saw him around school for the longest time and I never thought he would have a relationship with a student. This is shocking and worrisome. I don't think either person was really thinking. It is just really serious to see that someone is a mentor and then they are taking advantage."

10th grader Asia Martinez said, "It's really scarring and disturbing. If you see someone like a teacher coming at you in this way walk away and then ask someone for help."

11th grader Omar Castro said, "You see this on the news every day and you never think this could happen next to you. My advice to fellow students is to be extra careful. You have to be."

Police began looking into Esquilin after the teen's mother found an exchange of text messages with him on her daughter's cell phone.

The teen reportedly told the police that she had been "dating" her band directors since the beginning of last November. She said he even got her "Plan B" pills from time to time because he didn't want her to get pregnant.

Esquilin, who graduated from South Broward High in 2008, reportedly told investigators that he knew his actions were wrong and that there would be consequences.

He's been charged with sexual battery by a custodian of someone between the ages of 12 and 18. A judge ordered that he remain jailed without bond. She also ordered that he have no contact whatsoever with the victim.

Police are also looking into whether Esquilin has sex with a 16-year-old girl four years ago before he worked at the school.

Captions on his Facebook pages say he had been part of the Disneyland All American College band and had taught the history of jazz at F.S.U. Before returning to his alma mater.

A spokeswoman for Broward schools said he was hired in August of 2017 as a band teacher and left the school this January in what was called a "separation for personal reasons." That occurred shortly after the alleged relationship with the student ended.

D'Oench also stopped at Esquilin's home in Hollywood and knocked but no one came to the front door.