A Florida teacher was arrested Monday for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with her former 14-year-old student earlier this year, the New York Daily News reports.
Brittiny Lopez-Murray, 31, a drama teacher at Hialeah Middle School in Miami, is accused of having sex with a student, who is now in high school, on several occasions while parked outside a mall, a pharmacy, and other locations. The two also allegedly exchanged “explicit text messages and photos,” which were discovered by his sister this past weekend, and shown to their father.
While looking through his son’s phone, the victim’s father saw photos of Lopez-Murray’s “exposed breasts and vagina,” in addition to conversations detailing their sexual encounters. Lopez-Murray is facing a number of charges, including molestation, lewd and lascivious battery, engaging in a sexual act with a child, promoting sexual performance by a child, and unlawful use of a communications device.
Her attorney, Landon Ray, tells the Miami Herald that his client is “presumed innocent until proven guilty,” adding, “We hope everyone is patient, doesn’t rush to judgment and respects the family’s privacy.”
Lopez-Murray has been working at Hialeah Middle School for four years, and was named “Rookie Teacher of the Year” in 2017.
Lopez-Murray reportedly started in August when she texted the victim to express “her feelings toward” him. He told detectives that the two met over coffee, which led to a sexual encounter in her car. Their sexual relationship continued on multiple occasions, including one such incident where she picked him up from basketball practice.
Lopez-Murray allegedly told the victim via text message “how much they enjoyed the sex with each other,” per the UK’s Daily Mail.
Officials for Miami-Dade school district are working through the process of firing Lopez-Murray.
“Miami-Dade County Public Schools is saddened and disappointed over these serious allegations given that the District takes great measures to ensure our students are educated in safe learning environments,” the Miami Dade County Public Schools board said in a statement.
