MIAMI — A former Miami high school teacher is facing multiple felony charges after authorities accused him of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a freshman student following interactions that allegedly began inside his classroom.
Leroy Wright Jr., 46, a former reading teacher at Miami Jackson Senior High School, was arrested Friday following an investigation by Miami-Dade Schools Police into allegations involving a male student.
According to investigators, the case began after an anonymous tipster emailed the school’s principal on April 28 alleging Wright was involved in a relationship with a student. The allegations were later referred to the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Office of Professional Standards on May 7 before being turned over to school police.
Detectives interviewed the tipster, who directed them to the alleged victim. During an interview with investigators, the student said he first met Wright at the beginning of the school year after being invited to join the school’s Freshman Club, which Wright supervised.
Authorities said the student and Wright remained in frequent contact and that Wright occasionally drove the teen home from school.
According to police, the student told investigators the relationship escalated on April 29 after he hugged Wright while leaving the teacher’s classroom. Wright allegedly hugged the student back before kissing him and touching him inappropriately for several minutes inside the classroom.
Police allege additional incidents occurred on May 1 and May 4, including another alleged encounter while Wright was driving the student home.
Investigators said they conducted a forensic examination of the student’s cellphone as part of the investigation, though authorities did not publicly disclose details about what was recovered.
Following his arrest, police said Wright waived his Miranda rights and made unspecified admissions to investigators.
Wright has been charged with unlawful sexual activity with a specified minor, possession of obscene material depicting a minor and committing an offense against a student by an authority figure.
He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and remained held on a $35,000 bond, according to Miami-Dade County Corrections records.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools confirmed Wright is no longer employed by the district.
