MIAMI (WSVN) - It was sentencing day for a South Florida teacher who was convicted of crossing the line with a student.
Jason Meyers, 47, had already been convicted for sexually harassing and abusing female students. Monday, the former Miami-Dade County Public Schools teacher was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 10 years of probation upon his release.
The sentencing came just two months after Meyers was found guilty on three counts of engaging in sex with a minor. The inappropriate behavior happened all while he was a teacher at Miami Palmetto High School.
“He used his classroom as a bedroom,” said a prosecutor. “He committed multiple crimes and the state will prove that to you.”
The state was able to prove just that.
Meyers, who was arrested back in 2016, decided not to take the stand during the trial. Instead, his wife testified on his behalf, but Monday Meyers had a few things to say.
“I was never even alone in a room with Heaven Ruben,” he said during his sentencing. “Her story has grown and changed consistently over the years. Mine has not.”
Also lifting her voice via Zoom today was Heaven Ruben, one of Meyer’s victims.
“The state offered him a plea,” she said. “Multiple times we discussed alternate routes to close this case, and his arrogance and narcissism kept him from doing what was right. He’s shown zero remorse for accountability for his actions.”
Through it all, Meyers, his wife and his attorney have maintained his innocence, arguing that there was no evidence that he had committed a crime.
“When it became clear that litany of other accusers would be paraded through the courtroom, it became clear that Mr. Meyers would not get a fair trial if he were to testify or not,” said his attorney.
In the end, the jury would have the final say and convicted Meyers on all three counts.
Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.