Taekwondo teacher accused of sexually abusing girls

Girl says Wynwood teacher paid $100 for sex

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ A 64-year-old Taekwondo class teacherĀ was accused of sexually assaulting three girls, who were his students. Ā One said the abuse started when she was about 9 years old.Ā 

A girl said that over four months of attending the school Rafael NegronĀ performed oral sex on her. Over time, NegronĀ raped her. And he started paying her for sex about two years ago, police said. He first paid her $40 and later gave her $100 a week, according to the arrest report.Ā 

NegronĀ was working out of RN Taekwondo,Ā 188 NW 36 St., in Miami'sĀ WynwoodĀ neighborhood.Ā 

"Detectives believe there may be other victims that have still not come forward who may have fallen prey to Negron while under his tutelage," Officer Kenia Fallat said.Ā 

Prosecutors charged him with five counts of sexual battery on a minor by an adult, five counts of engaging in sexual with a familial child, two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and lewd and lascivious exhibition. Negron was at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and was being held without bond. His arraignment hearing was set for Thursday.Ā 

"Do not have any contact with these children either directly, indirectly, in person, in writing, by telephone [or] through third parties," JudgeĀ Mindy Glazer said Friday during his bond hearing.

A teen and her little sister were the first to come forward, after their mom found suspicious text messages. The third girl came forward when Negron was in jail.Ā Police arrested him Feb. 4 and filed more charges Feb. 18.Ā 

The first teen to come forward saidĀ NegronĀ fondled her breasts over her clothing, exposed his erected penis, made her touch it and kissed her on the neck, police said. He told her that if she would have sex with him, she would become his "sugar baby," because he would spoil her, police said.Ā 

The teen's little sister, a 10-year-old, Ā said he first touched her vaginal area over her clothing, while she helped him stretch, police said. And in another occasion, the girl said he took her and another child to Burger King and he allegedly said, "I would lick you down there. I would make you the happiest girl in the world."Ā 

The third girl to come forward said the sexual assault began when she was 9 or 10 years old and continued for about five years. The sexual assaults stopped in January, after the girl kicked him, police said. The girl said she never told her parents, because she was afraid. When she learned that Negron was arrested for molesting other children, she felt safe to disclose what happened. to her.Ā 

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About the Authors:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.