Roman Jose Fondon Jr., a substitute teacher at Ben Gamla Charter High School, is facing sexual battery charges because he allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old student in the parking lot of Aventura Mall, on the roof of the girl's condo, in his car and in an art classroom at the school. The abuse was discovered when the girl's mother found her diary, in which she detailed the sexual contact. According to law enforcement records, Fondon and the girl also exchanged naked pictures of each other via social media. Five sexual encounters are alleged to have occurred between February 26 and April 30, 2018.
Ben Gamla was the first Hebrew-English Charter School in the United States. The school opened in 2007 and has since expanded to other locations. Roman Fondon, age 28, is a former Florida International University pitcher who played for the Panthers from 2009-12. He finished his career with a 24-19 record and a 4.38 ERA, striking out 226 batters.
Due to the nature and severity of this crime and the position of authority held by the suspect over his victim, the Hollywood Police Department is requesting anyone who may have been victimized or has any information pertaining to the incident, to contact the Hollywood Police Department.
We commend this child for having the courage to report her teacher. We look forward to an investigation to determine if there were signs or warnings to school administrators about the sexual contact that was occurring. Rarely is a student molested in school without warning. Sexual predators know they have time to "groom" their victims, to slowly gain their trust, until the sexual contact occurs, almost as if part of a natural progression. Abuse in schools can occur at any age, from pre-kindergarten through college.
If someone you know has been a victim of childhood sexual abuse at a school, contact our law firm at (954) 641-2100 or send an email to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com.