Sarasota Teacher Arrested For Sexual Battery

A karate instructor at the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences is being held in Sarasota County jail without bond following charges he had sex seven years ago with a student in his classroom.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested John Garcia, 47 of 2816 Poplar St., Sarasota, for allegedly having sex with a student seven years ago.

Garcia was taken into custody Friday morning and charged with Custodial Sexual Battery on a Child, according to the sheriff's office.

A former student told detectives that Garcia had sex with her in his classroom when he was 41-years-old and she was just 14-years-old, according to the sheriff's office.

The victim, who is now 21 years old, had told her brothers about the incident, who then notified the sheriff's office, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The sheriff's office set up a phone call between the victim and Garcia where Garcia called her sweetie and babe and said "we weren't really boyfriend and girlfriend," according to the affidavit.

When the victim brought up the two had sex, Garcia said "we never really...really did...did all the way thing," according to the affidavit.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call Criminal Investigations at 941-861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477), or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com or via text message by texting TIP109 plus a message to CRIMES (274637).