NEW CASTLE, Del. – A middle school physical education teacher has been arrested and charged with 17 felony counts for allegedly sending sexually explicit messages to an eighth-grade student.
Ricardo Vila, 39, a PE teacher at George Read Middle School in New Castle, was taken into custody on Monday morning after authorities reviewed inappropriate text and social media messages he allegedly exchanged with a 13-year-old student.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings condemned the incident, stating, “Any case with a child victim is heinous; cases where the abuser held a position of trust are beyond the pale. We will find them, charge them without compromise, and bring them to justice.”
Police confirmed Vila faces multiple charges, including:
Six counts of sexual solicitation of a child
Six counts of promoting sexual solicitation of a child
Two counts of obscenity
One count each of enticement, sexual abuse of a person in a position of trust, and a dangerous crime against a child
According to court documents, both the school administration and the student reported the inappropriate messages, which included explicit requests and discussions about sexual acts.
