Paul Michael Mira, the former PE director at a Miami charter school, has admitted to having sex with both a 12-year-old and a 17-year-old student, but because of a plea deal struck with prosecutors, the man will not have to serve any time behind bars. Instead, the sexual predator who has basically admitted to statutory rape will get off relatively light: probation, registration as a sex offender, and a lifetime ban on teaching.
Mira, 29, who served as the athletic director of Archimedean Middle Conservatory and Archimedean Upper Conservatory, two associated Miami-Dade charter schools in West Kendall, was originally charged in mid-November. He evaded police and at the time told his relatives he'd rather die than be caught. He stood accused of molesting the 12-year-old three times between October and November. Mira was eventually arrested more than a month later.
Police now believe that even while he was on the run, he stayed in contact with the 17-year-old. According to CBS Miami, the girl begged police not to charge Mira because she thought she loved him. She also refused to believe he would have sex with the 12-year-old because he wouldn't "cheat" on her. Police believe Mira was manipulating her.
Mira has now admitted to the sexual assaults but won't face any jail time. He entered a plea deal February 9. He pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault on a minor and charges of sexual abuse. He will serve ten years of probation, be forced to register as a sex offender, and must hand in his teaching certification. He has also agreed to terms that prevent him from ever again supervising children. If he breaks the terms of his probation, he could face up to 40 years in prison.
Both girls' parents agreed to the terms of the deal to keep their daughters from testifying, but according to CBS Miami, both families say the girls have had to change schools and undergo counseling after the assaults.
