MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A “former band teacher” is facing three felony charges after Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies said he had sexual encounters with a student at his apartment in the Kendall area.
Deputies arrested Heihachiro Nakashima, 33, on three counts of lewd and lascivious battery after he self-surrendered on Tuesday. According to MDSO, Nakashima worked at Palm Glades Preparatory Academy, a charter school located at 22655 SW 112th Ave. in the county’s unincorporated Princeton area.
According to the MDSO warrant, the relationship with the 15-year-old girl escalated to sexual encounters after starting as text messages in which Nakashima “assumed a parental role” ― “frequently” telling the victim “he loved her,” which she interpreted as being “platonic” and coming from a “father figure.”
Those encounters happened at Nakashima’s apartment near the Dadeland Mall and Nakashima, at one point, expressed a desire to have a “boyfriend-girlfriend” relationship with the teenager, deputies said.
Appearing in court on Wednesday, Miami-Dade judge Mindy Glazer set a $15,000 bond for Nakashima. His attorney had argued that his client had no prior criminal history and was not a flight risk.
He’ll also be subject to house arrest with GPS and Glazer ordered him to stay away from the accuser.
Local 10 News is working to learn additional details about the case.
Additionally, we contacted a spokesperson for the Florida Charter School Alliance seeking comment on behalf of Palm Glades.
Deputies asked anyone with information about the case to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
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