Former teacher arrested on molestation charges

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (WSVN) -- A former Catholic school music teacher is behind bars after he turned himself in to face accusations that he committed a sex crime on a student.

Wednesday morning, at St. Andrew Catholic School in Coral Springs, parents reacted to the arrest of 37-year-old Miguel Cala, a former music teacher at the school, who had since gone on the run before turning himself in to Virginia Police, Friday. "I mean I wish it wasn't true," said Renee Netoli, a concerned parent.

Vanessa Diaz, another concerned parent, said, "You think they're going to be safe, and you're not going to think this is going to happen. It's so sad."

Though the alleged crime never happened on campus but during private lessons at a student's home, investigators are searching for more victims.

Cala turned himself over to police in Virginia to be charged with lewd and lascivious molestation. The Broward Sheriff's Office said they expect to see him extradited to Broward at some point, but they are not sure when. When he is, he could face more charges.

According to the 8-year-old victim's mother, Cala fondled her son during his weekly private lessons at the family's home. The victim's mother said, her son opened up about the sexual abuse after she questioned him. "And he said, 'Like when I have my music lesson, Mommy, and Mr. Cala touches my pee-pee.'"

In May, Cala quit working at the Catholic school and disappeared. The Broward Sheriff's Office, however, recently located Cala in Virginia.

According to the victim's mother, she told her son to inform her if someone touched him inappropriately, but he did not tell her about Cala's actions. "I said, 'Why didn't you tell Mommy and Daddy that that happened to you?' And he said, 'Because he told me it's like a hug,'" she said, "so this isn't just a casual person, and he did this in a room that is 15 feet from where I was. I never left them alone. I mean, he did this right under my roof."

The mother of the 8-year-old said she found out Cala was wanted by BSO because she called police when Cala failed to show up for his weekly music lesson with her son.

Authorities said, Cala may have more victims. If you believe your child may have been a victim of Cala, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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