A Seminole County judge yesterday sentenced former Lake Mary High School teacher and girls' assistant soccer coach Richard Carlos Colon, 57, to more than 27 years in state prison after prosecutors said he carried on a sexual relationship with one of his students. In court, Colon apologized to the victim and her family as the sentence was handed down, the culmination of a case that began with a tip to school officials in 2024 and a guilty plea in November 2025.
Charges And Guilty Plea
According to a press release from the Office of the State Attorney 18th Judicial Circuit, Colon pleaded guilty on Nov. 13, 2025, to three counts of sexual battery on a child by a person in custodial authority, along with related counts that included possession of material depicting sexual conduct by a child, computer solicitation of a child, and transmission of material harmful to minors. Prosecutors say the sexual battery charges are first-degree felonies that can carry penalties of up to life in prison, while the remaining counts are third-degree felonies.
The State Attorney's Office said forensic searches of both Colon's and the student's phones uncovered explicit photos, videos, and messages that investigators say documented sexual activity and underpinned the charges.
Evidence Presented At Sentencing
Prosecutors laid out a disturbing timeline of the relationship in court, describing months of sexually charged messages on Snapchat that escalated into in-person encounters at Colon's Sorrento home and inside his classroom during times when no other students were present. Assistant State Attorney Anna Valentini urged the judge to follow state sentencing guidelines that called for roughly 326 months behind bars.
Colon’s attorney pushed for a significantly shorter sentence, arguing for leniency despite the admitted conduct. Circuit Judge Michael Rudisill was not persuaded, noting from the bench that the relationship was more than a one-time thing and pointedly telling Colon, “You do not have sexual contact with the students,” as reported by FOX 35 Orlando.
School Response And Community Fallout
Seminole County Public Schools has said it takes any allegation of staff misconduct seriously and cooperated fully with law enforcement, according to WESH. District officials placed Colon on administrative leave after receiving a tip in 2024, which prompted the Seminole County Sheriff's Office to open an investigation that led to his arrest.
Former students and parents who spoke to reporters said they were stunned and angry that an educator with nearly a three-decade career in the classroom and on the soccer field had admitted to such conduct. For many in Lake Mary, the case has become a flashpoint about trust in schools and how quickly districts respond when warning signs appear.
Sentence Details And Legal Consequences
The court ultimately imposed a sentence of 326.1 months in state prison and designated Colon a sexual predator, according to ClickOrlando. That designation comes with strict registration and community-notification rules under Florida law, including lifetime registration with state authorities, as outlined in the relevant Florida statute.
ClickOrlando reports that Colon previously turned down a 15-year plea offer from prosecutors, while the defense asked the judge at sentencing to impose a seven-year term instead. The judge sided with the state’s recommended guideline range.
Court records indicate the sentence is final for now, although future appeals or additional filings remain possible as the victim, the school district, and the broader community continue to process the outcome.
