Florida Band Teacher Arrested for Having Inappropriate Relationship With Student Half His Age

A Florida band teacher has been arrested for allegedly having a prolonged sexual relationship with a student.

Heihachiro Nakashima, 33, was arrested on Tuesday, July 14, on three counts of lewd and lascivious battery by an authority figure, according to Miami-Dade jail records. He appeared in court the following day and his bond was set at $45,000.

According to an arrest warrant viewed by NBC6 in Miami, police began investigating Nakashima after the victim came forward alleging she began a sexual relationship with him in March when she was 15. At the time, he was her band teacher.

Things reportedly began when Nakashima, an accomplished violinist, began communicating with the victim via text messages after he gave her complimentary tickets to one of his orchestra performances.

“He began grooming the victim by purchasing her numerous items,” Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Det. Jesus Llanes said, per the outlet. “He would groom the victim by purchasing her items, making her believe that they were in love and he would provide like an authority figure over her.”

Nakashima allegedly told her he loved her, albeit platonically, before they met up outside of school for the first time. He reportedly picked her up from her home, but she told her parents she was spending time with a friend. According to the report, he took her to his home and they had intimate contact but no sexual activity, per the warrant.

However, throughout several subsequent meetings at his home between March and June, the victim says they engaged in sex acts. After she came forward to police, a warrant was issued for Nakashima’s arrest on June 15, and he was finally booked on July 14.