Former Miami-Dade Teacher Found Guilty of Having Sex With Underage Student – NBC 6 South Florida

A former Miami-Dade high school teacher was found guilty Friday seven years after he was arrested for having sex with an underage student.

After two hours of deliberation, Jason Meyers, 47, was convicted of three counts of sexual activity with a minor by a person in custodial authority following his February 2016 arrest.

Meyers was teaching creative writing at Miami Palmetto Senior High School when a student, who was 17 at the time, said Meyers had sex with her inside his classroom. Prosecutors said Meyers was mentoring the girl and started to encourage her to include sexual themes in her poetry, which eventually led to the inappropriate relationship.

Meyers has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

In closing arguments Friday, Meyers’ wife took the stand in his defense.

The former student gave testimony twice, becoming emotional at one point as she spoke about the alleged physical contact with Meyers.

Jurors also heard from her former best friend, Toni McLaughlin, who reported the alleged relationship at the time.

Another Palmetto High student who claimed Meyers kissed her twice also took the stand. She said it was before his alleged sexual relationship with the other student.