Man claims innocence about sexual relationship with pupil

A math teacher who allegedly had sex with a 14-year-old girl says he can’t be sued over it because their sexual relationship happened off campus and they loved each other, the Daily Mail newspaper reported Friday.

Julio Cesar Benavides, 32, who taught Richmond Hill High School in Queens, New York, insisted that there is no reason for being accused of the crime.

Their “romantic relationship” turned into “normal teacher-pupil relationship” and a “friendship,” court papers said. Benavides was found guilty and lost his job because of unlawful sexual relationship with his “girl friend” in 2008.

Although Benavides wanted to see her after his arrest, the girl’s mother has filed a $3million lawsuit against him in Brooklyn Federal Court. She claimed he violated her daughter’s civil rights because she suffered sexual harassment and a hostile environment at school. In addition, the mother also claimed her daughter was sexually discriminated against.

However, Benavides said their sexual relationship took place out of school hours. He also added that he did not alter her grades and treated her just like he treated all the other students.