Coach Sentenced Despite Family Plea | Jacksonville News

A Florida high school coach, Ruben Tirado, got two years in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old student — despite the victim and her family pleading not to prosecute. Security footage captured the abuse, and prosecutors pressed charges even as the teen’s parents begged for mercy. Though Florida’s age of consent is 18, the “Romeo and Juliet” law doesn’t apply here — the gap was too wide, and Tirado was over 24. Worse, because he was a school employee, Florida’s harsher laws for custodians meant he faced first-degree felony charges, probation, and mandatory sex offender registration — showing how power dynamics and legal loopholes can’t shield predators from justice. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c876d2ed916c3f3e