Drama teacher Sylvers Robinson of Miami was arrested Monday for allegedly sending pornography and sexual text messages to a 14-year-old student.
Robinson, 29, is being charged with directing or promoting sexual performance by a child, transmission of material that is harmful to minors, and using a computer to solicit or lure a child to engage in sexual conduct. It is unclear if Robinson has acquired the services of an attorney.
According to the arrest report, Robinson was a drama teacher and counselor at Harvard International Academy on 7932 Pines Boulevard. He reportedly took a special interest in a 14-year-old student and would stand close to the boy and make comments about his attire.
“He liked me more than the other kids,” the teen told Local 10 News. “He treated me different. He would be mean to the kids, but he would treat me like I’m a king.”
On Sept. 5, Robinson reportedly took the teen’s cellphone while they were at school, dialed his own phone number and hang up. Later that day, he allegedly began sending the student text messages asking if he was a virgin and calling him “cute.” Robinson also asked the boy to accept his Instagram request and sent him a pornographic image.
The teen told his mother that a teacher at his school was making him uncomfortable and she reported the situation to the police. An undercover detective impersonating the teen continued communicating with Robinson using the boy’s cellphone. Robinson reportedly sent more sexual texts as well as a shirtless picture of himself to the detective. He asked about the boy’s penis size and what he was wearing in bed, among other things, police said.
After his arrest, Robinson told investigators that the messages and his intentions were taken out of context, the report said. He said he was trying to foster a “big brother” relationship with the boy and did not believe he did anything wrong.
Robinson also told investigators that he is not sexually attracted to his student and only sent the sexual texts to make the teen stop the inappropriate communications. He believes the student is setting him up because of his sexual orientation, according to the report. Police reportedly found over a dozen condoms and two tubes of sexual lubricant in Robinson’s backpack after his arrest.
Ingrid Mason, director of student services at Harvard International Academy, told the press that Robinson was fired from his job at the school.
Another incident involving an adult and a student was reported at a Jupiter school last month. Leonard White of West Palm Beach, Florida is accused of exposing himself to a 4-year-old student during nap time at a school in Jupiter.
White, 34, was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving a minor. He was released from Palm Beach County Jail on $15,000 bond. News sources did not name an attorney for White.
According to the arrest report, White exposed himself to a 4-year-old girl during nap time and tickled her under her shirt. The name and location of the school are redacted in the report. White’s position in the school is also redacted.
White’s behavior was reported to the school by the victim’s parents. When the school director asked him about the incident, White reportedly denied the allegation and said he only “adjusted his pants” in front of the child. He admitted to exposing himself to the student when he was questioned by investigators two weeks later, the report said.
Source: 9.18.17 Pembroke Pines Teacher Sylvers Robinson Accused of Sending Porn, Sexual Texts to Student.pdf