A former student of the South Dade Senior High School, Florida, has won nearly $49.3 million judgment against her geometry teacher who raped her and also sent her lewd messages in 2014. The multimillion dollar verdict included $30 million in punitive damages.
A Miami-Dade civil court jury Tuesday slapped Bresnniel Jansen Mones, now 35, with the hefty damages. Mones admitted he had sex with the minor and also sent her vulgar texts when he was a teacher in 2014.
The victim, now 20 years old, was only 16 years old at the time of the incident.
The then sophomore student, identified only as C.R.R., told NBC6, “I was raped by my geometry professor. I was 16 years old at the time, and he had complete control over me. I try not thinking about it and I don’t speak of it unless I have to face a certain situation. But other than that I try and go about my normal day.”
According to the New York Post, the victim said, “I feel like I am making a difference. No amount of money would ever change that.” She added, “Being young and being put in that position, I felt like I was against a 32-year-old that obviously had more power, and people would believe him over me, and I didn’t stand a chance.”
According to the Miami Herald, the Miami-Dade County school board had also reached an undisclosed settlement with the student in a different suit. The school board was accused of negligence in failing to protect the student from a teacher who allegedly had a history of improper behavior.
A release from Leighton Law, the firm of C.R.R.’s damages trial attorneys John Leighton and Max Panoff, said that Mones had sent the girl explicit messages in 2013. Mones also sent images of his genitals, forced oral sex on her, and had sex with her on his desk during school hours, reports said.
Leighton told NBC6, “Especially in light of the national spotlight on this very subject, it is important for victims of sexual abuse to have their day in court. This verdict will send a message, especially where abusers and rapists take advantage of the criminal justice system. No longer will our client be the hunted victim.”
He also told Channel 7 Miami, “The hope is that maybe the people in the school system have learned some lessons from this.”
After Mones pleaded guilty, he served six months in prison and was released in June. However, his original probation period of 10 years has already been reduced to eight. Presently, he lives in South Miami-Dade as a registered sex offender.
Speaking to Channel 7 Miami, the victim said, “I feel like he should have been punished more. Ten years can pass by and he can do whatever he wants to do.” She also said that she now lives in fear because Mones is no longer in jail.
If he has to register he will never get to do what he wants to do.
Wow! Maybe I’m missing something, but how will she get paid that much money? What alleged history of improper behavior should the school board have been aware of? Here is a perfect example of educating the students in how to respond to inappropriate advances. I cannot be absolutely sure, but if a teacher had ever made advances towards me at 16, I think I would have gone home and told my mother.
“do whatever he wants to do”….
What a moron.