POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A former teacher and soccer coach in Polk County was arrested Tuesday, accused of sexually battering a 17-year-old girl who was a student at the school he worked for, according to the sheriff’s office.
Richard Alcalde, 26, was a teacher and boys’ soccer coach at Star Athletes Academy near Lakeland, the sheriff’s office said. School officials told detectives that Alcalde was hired there in August 2023 and that his employment is now terminated, according to a news release.
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The sheriff’s office said it began investigating Alcalde on Tuesday. This was after the victim’s mother picked the girl up from a Dollar General store along U.S. Highway 17-92 W the night before, noting the girl appeared intoxicated and soon finding a flirtatious text conversation with Alcalde on her phone, deputies said.
The girl said that Alcalde had given her an alcoholic beverage at the school before driving her to a gas station and getting her another alcoholic beverage. She then accuses Alcalde of driving her to the Dollar General and sexually battering her there, according to the news release.
Speaking with detectives, Alcalde allegedly admitted to sexually battering the girl twice, but denied giving her alcohol, the release states. He faces charges of sexual battery by a custodian, sexual offense on a student by an authority figure and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, according to the sheriff’s office.
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