Homestead phys ed coach accused of having sex with student released from jail
MIAMI - A Homestead teacher accused of having sex with one of his students bonded out of jail early Thursday morning.
Joseph Edward Tolliver, 37, a physical education coach at Campbell Drive K-8, reportedly had sexual relations with the 14-year-old girl over the weekend.
"Sir, you got arrested for some serious charges," said Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer on Wednesday.
"It's shocking, I'm shaking myself," said Liz Bonet, the mother of two students at the school. She rushed there Wednesday to pick them up when she found out about Tolliver's arrest.
"Miami-Dade school called me saying there's something wrong with a teacher, with a student," said Doris Castro, who was very irate. Her daughter attends the school, located at 15700 SW 307th Street in Homestead.
According to the teen, she and Tolliver had a "personal relationship."
"She advised the defendant would enter through her bedroom window to avoid being seen by her mother when he came by to visit her on several occasions," according to Tolliver's arrest report.
On Saturday, Tolliver reportedly had a sexual encounter with the teen in his car in the parking lot of the apartment building where she lives.
"Very sad, and it doesn't sound good for the school either," said Luis Velez, whose son attends the school.
The Miami-Dade public schools system responded through a statement, praising the police for their investigation, reiterating the sexual encounters did not occur on school premises and that the teacher would be terminated.
The Director of Miami-Dade Police Freddy Ramirez stated, "As a father, I am deeply disturbed anytime educator betrays the public's trust."
Tolliver has been charged with lewd/lascivious battery on a child 12 - 16 years of age.
