LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – An ex-teacher was found guilty in Lake County last week for sexually abusing a foreign exchange student who was staying with him, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
In a release, SAO officials announced that the former teacher — Dmitri Kostyunin, 51 — used to work at Apopka High School.
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In October 2023, Lake County detectives were contacted by FBI agents, who explained that authorities in Italy had reported an “incident” that happened at Kostyunin’s home in Mount Dora, the release shows.
An Italian exchange student who’d been staying with Kostyunin had reported being sexually abused by Kostyunin to his family back in Italy, leading his family to contact law enforcement, according to SAO officials.
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In an arrest affidavit, police said that Kostyunin had drugged the boy with marijuana-laced chocolates and gave him wine while watching a movie about Elton John and “how he became gay.”
Kostyunin repeatedly offered to give the student a massage — offers that the student rejected — and eventually performed sex acts on him, the affidavit says.
Detectives said they later contacted Kostyunin, who admitted to providing the boy with the alcohol and drugged chocolates.
“Kostyunin then stated he blacked out but woke up the next day and knew he made a mistake,” the SAO release reads.
Kostyunin was arrested on Oct. 3, and over five months later, he was found guilty of the following charges:
- Sexual battery upon a child between 12 and 18 years of age by a person in familial or custodial authority
- Contributing to the delinquency of a minor
- Delivery of cannabis to a person under 18 years old by a person over 18 years old
“Kostyunin’s actions not only violated the trust placed in him but also endangered the well-being of a child within our community,” Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson said. “Instead of being able to learn abroad, make lasting friendships, and take in some of the amazing things our country has to offer, those experiences and memories will forever be tarnished because of Kostyunin.”
According to the SAO, a presentencing investigation has been issued, and Kostyunin will be sentenced at a later time.
After Kostyunin’s initial arrest, Apopka High School Principal Lyle Heinz sent out the following message to families:
Apopka High School families: this is Principal Heinz calling with an update to my message from yesterday evening. The employee that I notified you about has been arrested in Lake County as a result of an isolated situation that did not occur on our campus or in Orange County. This individual is on administrative leave and will not return to campus, pending the outcome of both the internal and law enforcement investigations. Thank you for your continued support.
Apopka High School Principal Lyle Heinz
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