PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (WFLA) – Teachers and coaches at Punta GORDA Middle School are accused of having sex with students on campus and documenting their encounters.
According to an arrest affidavit, the victim’s mother discovered an inappropriate text message between the girl and 36-year-old Dagoberto Miguel Pena.
“I really love you”: Manatee County teacher accused of sending inappropriate letters from fifth graders
In several text messages between the teacher and the student, Pena told her “You look gorgeous,” and requested a photo of the girl, the affidavit said. Pena also read, “We sent a porn video to the victim,” followed by a message that read, “erase!!.”
NBC’s affiliate WBBH reported that Pena has allowed it to delete 400 messages.
Officials said the crime occurred between March 2024 and April 24, 2025. The victim admitted to having sex with Pena four times.
Following one sexual encounter in the “game,” the victim told authorities that he did not report the incident as he told her that Pena could go to prison if he found him. The report details another encounter at the training table after training, one detailing encounters on the school grounds.
Veterinarian who killed his girlfriend and her three children are scheduled to be executed in Florida
Pena recorded a video of the encounter and shared it with the girl through text. The affidavit said it would also give students expensive sneakers and apparel.
According to WBBH, Pena was an assistant basketball coach at Charlotte High School. He was also a former Dominican national basketball player who played at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
“We obviously shouldn’t be coaching,” the 45-year-old basketball coach told WBBH. “It’s sad that not only him, but everyone, will take advantage of young children.”
Pena was arrested Tuesday by Punta Gorda police on charges of illegal sexual activity by certain minors and perverted batteries against victims under the age of 16.
