Former student recounts 'uncomfortable' encounter with teacher accused of sexual misconduct – WFTV

LAKE MARY, Fla. – While the arrest of a Lake Mary High School teacher unsettled parents, it was also vindication for a former student.

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Channel 9 spoke exclusively to a woman who only wanted to be identified as Michelle G.

She said two decades before Richard Colon was arrested by Seminole County officials, she had interactions with the teacher that made her feel “uncomfortable and uneasy.”

Read: Lake Mary teacher accused of misconduct toward student appears in court

Channel 9 previously said 55-year-old Richard Colon was arrested Thursday for the inappropriate relationship he had with a student.

According to Seminole County Public Schools, he worked for the district for 29 years and was also an assistant coach for the high school girls' soccer team.

But on Thursday, Seminole County officials arrested Colon at the school on charges of “using a computer to seduce, lure or entice a child” and “transmitting material harmful to a minor.”

Read: Lake Mary High School teacher and assistant coach arrested on misconduct charges

According to the arrest report, the inappropriate relationship began in July when Colon began having sexually explicit conversations with the student.

Officials said Colon sent the student a pornographic image of himself and the sexual conversations culminated on Sept. 28, when investigators said the student visited Colon's home in Sorrento for sexual activity.

At this time, Colon has not been charged with any crimes in connection with this encounter, but Seminole County deputies said the investigation is ongoing and Lake County deputies have also opened an investigation related to the allegations.

When that news came to light, a former Colon student said she broke down as she realized her concerns from decades ago were valid.

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Michelle G said she was pregnant and a student in Colon's 2002 history class.

She told Channel 9 that Colon often massaged her back, shoulders and thighs during class.

She recalled an encounter in which Colon rubbed her thigh as he asked to take her home.

“I just felt very uncomfortable, uncomfortable. And all I remember is that he was very touchy with almost everyone,” Michelle said.

Michelle is now an adult and told us she wished she could go back in time to report it.

“My feelings from over 20 years ago have been confirmed. You have no idea how much this means to me and how much my older self wishes I could go back to save others,” Michelle said. “It’s the people you trust the most who do this to children.”

Colon is being held in the Seminole County Jail on an $80,000 bond.

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