Miami-Dade County Schools JROTC teacher is accused of sexually abusing student, police say

A 75-year-old Miami-Dade County Public Schools employee and retired Army veteran is accused of sexually abusing a student, police say.

Eleizer Santana is listed as being head of the JROTC program at South Miami Senior High School. He had been working for MDCPS since 2006, according to the school district.

The teenage girl told police that Santana befriended her and “took advantage of the relationship,” according to his arrest report.

Police say Santana sent text messages to her stating “I can be your sugar daddy” and “Tell me what you need and I will get it for you.”

He told her to never tell anyone, saying it would be “our secret,” the report stated.

Santana also allegedly told the teen to delete the messages so her boyfriend would not get jealous.

The teen told police that, on May 30 inside a classroom, Santana sexually abused her multiple times and that when she tried to move away he told her, “I’m so sorry, I love you, I would never do anything to make you feel uncomfortable.”

The girl told Santana that she did not want him to touch her but he ignored her and continued his assault, according to the arrest report.

According to police:

He then drove her home and the assault continued in his car. He later messaged her to ask if he could continue to touch her sexually. He also gave her gifts, including stuffed animals and $50 for her graduation.

The next day, on May 31, Santana picked up the teen from her home and took her to a McDonald’s for breakfast and then to school.

He told her: “You don’t love me anymore ... why didn’t you text me last night.”

They later met in a conference room with Santana asking her, “What do you like? When someone touches you softly and gently or rough?” as he assaulted her.

Later that day, the victim was a speaker at an event and was wearing a dress. Santana told her she looked beautiful and to sit next to him and he proceeded to sexually assault her.

Santana told her, “If I wasn’t with my wife and you weren’t with your boyfriend, I would ask you to move in with me and I would be your sugar daddy. Wouldn’t it be nice not to pay any rent?”

The next day, on June 1, the teen told her parents and boyfriend of what had been happening and they reported it to the police.

On June 2, Santana called her and left a message pleading with her to call him. She told police she was worried and suffered from “mental anguish.”

The teen’s phone was taken for evidence.

On June 6, Santana turned himself in to the Miami-Dade County Schools Police Department and invoked his right to remain silent.

In a statement to the Miami Herald, the school district said: “As a result, his employment with the District was terminated and the individual has been precluded from seeking future employment with the District.”

He was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and freed on a $13,500 bond. A judge ordered him to stay away from the girl and to have no unsupervised contact with minors.

He faces felony charges, including sexual offense against a student by an authority figure and lewd or lascivious touching of a minor.

Court records show Santana has a trial hearing at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 16.

This story was originally published October 18, 2024 at 2:53 PM.