MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Rudolph Infante was working as an art teacher in Miami-Dade County when he allegedly battered a student several times.

The teacher’s case was assigned to the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Sexual Crimes and Child Abuse unit, according to court records.

Infante, 53, was on house arrest after a judge ordered him to stay away from all schools and from a teenage girl, according to court records.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools released a statement about the case on Sunday, reporting that the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department investigated him.

M-DCPS also reported that the school district had initiated employment termination proceedings against Infante, of Homestead.

Miami Southridge Senior High School, at 19355 SW 114 Ave., in the South Miami Heights area, listed Infante on the faculty directory as a Fine Arts teacher.

M-DSPD officers arrested Infante on Friday, and he appeared before Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Michael G. Barket on Saturday in bond court.

The prosecution requested a total lockdown on house arrest, and the defense asked for leniency. Barket sided with the prosecution and addressed the defense: “If the court doesn’t protect our most vulnerable, who will?”

Infante faced five charges: Four counts of battery and one count of offenses against students by authority figures. Barket set Infante’s bond at $14,000 and ordered the total lockdown.

“This type of behavior will not be tolerated as it runs contrary to the professional conduct we expect from all employees,” a M-DCPS spokesperson wrote without providing specifics.

Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Zachary James was set to preside over the case.

Local 10 News Assignment Editors Sofia Mendez and Mariana Ortiz contributed to this report.

Read M-DCPS complete statement:

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is disturbed by the allegations made against this individual.

Upon learning about this suspected behavior, Miami-Dade Schools Police immediately began their investigation and subsequently made an arrest.

This type of behavior will not be tolerated as it runs contrary to the professional conduct we expect from all employees.

The District has initiated employment termination proceedings and will ensure the individual is precluded from seeking future employment with M-DCPS.

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Miami-Dade schools’ teacher faces prosecution by state attorney’s sexual crimes and child abuse unit

Judge on teacher’s house arrest with total lockdown: ‘If the court doesn’t protect our most vulnerable, who will?’

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Andrea Torres