High school teacher, 53, jailed for punching a 17-year-old student in the face when she refused to have sex with him



A 53-year-old high school teacher has been charged with battery and jailed after he punched a 17-year-old student in the face when she refused to have sex with him.



Manuel Cruz is alleged to have had sex with his underage victim on one previous occasion after she visited his apartment on December 9, in Miami, Florida.



She returned to his home 11 days later, where the English teacher plied her with alcohol and marijuana and tried to have sex with her again, at which point she refused, according to an arrest affidavit.

Charged with battery and unlawful sex with a minor: Manuel Cruz, 53, punched the 17-year-old student in the face after she refused to have sex with him

When the teen said no, Cruz punched her in the face, knocking her out cold.

The student, who does not attend Hialeah High School in Miami, where Cruz worked, received injuries to her cheek and left eye from the attack.



Cruz told police that he had three Scotch drinks before and during the encounter and admitted to punching her in the face, according to the affidavit.

Teaching job: Manuel Cruz worked as an English teacher at Hialeah High School, in Miami, Florida (pictured)

She told police that she drank alcohol and smoked marijuana with him when she visited Cruz's apartment complex on December 20th.



After his arrest, Cruz resigned his position at the school.



He also allegedly admitted to police that he had sex with the girl on December 9th.

