Eric Bernard Givens, Miami Teacher Faces Multiple Charges for Alleged Sexual Misconduct with Multiple Students

A former Miami teacher, Eric Bernard Givens, has been charged with multiple offenses after being accused of inappropriate conduct with several of his students. The accusations include molestation of one student and inappropriate contact with others. The incidents allegedly took place while Givens was employed at several schools in Miami.

Givens was first accused of sending inappropriate texts to a 10-year-old girl who was his former third-grade student at Theodore R. and Thelma A. Gibson Charter School. According to the girl’s statement, Givens had messaged her on March 3 after she texted him about students not passing, and sent her messages such as “I wanna see you again,” “Always wanted to date you,” and “Oh wow I wanna see you bad.” He also sent her a photo of himself wearing only boxer briefs. Givens claimed that he thought he was messaging the girl’s mother, but the girl had identified herself in the messages, making it clear that he was messaging her. Givens was arrested on May 5 and charged with offenses against students by an authority figure.

While in custody, another former student came forward with similar allegations against Givens. The victim claimed that Givens had molested her on several occasions when she was in his fifth-grade class at Cathedral of St. Mary’s in 2019. She stated that Givens would pull her back into the classroom after everyone left, grab her hair and wrist, and molest her. This happened almost every day and continued for a few months before the school year ended.

A third victim, also a former student of Givens, then came forward, alleging that Givens had inappropriate contact with her when she was his fifth-grade student at St. Mary’s Cathedral School in Miami. She claimed that Givens would grab her as if he was hugging her but would purposely squeeze her tightly so she would press against his body for around 10 seconds. She also stated that Givens held her in the classroom at one point and proceeded to stare up and down her body before joining the rest of the class outside.

Givens was charged with lewd and lascivious conduct on a child under 16 for the incident involving the third victim. He was also charged with seven counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child, seven counts of battery, and one count of offenses against students by authority figures for the incidents involving the first two victims.

Givens had been working at several schools in Miami before his arrest, including Theodore R. and Thelma A. Gibson Charter School, the Cathedral of St. Mary’s, and the Scheck Hillel Community School. The Archdiocese of Miami, where Givens was employed from August 2019 to March 2020, issued a statement saying that he had been fired due to an inappropriate text sent to a student. The statement also said that counseling had been offered to the student and her family and that the police were notified and the incident was investigated. The Archdiocese stated that it had no prior knowledge of the other incidents involving Givens.

The Head of School at the Scheck Hillel Community School, Rabbi Ari Leubitz, stated that the arrest had no connection to the school but that investigations would be conducted if any individuals who had been on campus were suspected of not aligning with the school’s core values. Administrators from Theodore R. and Thelma A. Gibson Charter School declined to comment further on the incident involving Givens.

Givens appeared in court and was ordered held without bond. It is unclear at this time if he has retained an attorney. The case is ongoing, and further details may be released as the investigation continues.

Last Known Contact Information

Address: 10701 SW 221st St # A5 Miami, FL 33170
Phone: 786-402-3311
Email: bigdreams1000@gmail.com

Arrest Information

Jail Number: 230135901

Court Information

Case Number: F-23-009408, F-23-009182, F-23-009181