Miami-Dade charter school IT director arrested on child porn charges, deputies say

A technology director at a charter school in unincorporated Miami-Dade County has been arrested on multiple charges related to child exploitation, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed in an arrest report on Saturday.

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Jail records show Michael Rodriguez, 32, is facing six counts of possession of sexual performance by a child and one count of promoting or attempting to promote sexual performance by a child.

As of Saturday afternoon, Rodriguez is listed as a technology director on Pinecrest Cove Preparatory Academy’s website. The school is located at 4301 SW 107th Ave., in the county’s Westwood Lakes neighborhood.

MDSO deputies said Rodriguez’s arrest came after a tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which indicated that he was a staff member at the school.

According to the investigators, Rodriguez, who was responsible for overseeing the school’s technology infrastructure, admitted to viewing and sending child pornography to himself while at work in his private office.

Rodriguez claimed that he only accessed the material while at work, taking advantage of the fact that his office was obscured from security cameras, the report stated.

Deputies said a search of Rodriguez’s office revealed a desktop computer and a USB hub labeled “MY STUFF”, contained multiple folders with images of a sexual nature, including a folder labeled “RANDOM GIRLS” that contained multiple files of child pornography.

Authorities said they obtained a search warrant to seize Rodriguez’s electronic devices and he voluntarily signed a consent form allowing investigators to access and confiscate his USB drive.

The investigation revealed that the children in the videos appeared to be as young as four years old, deputies said.

Rodriguez’s arrest report states that he was arrested on Friday and transported to the Metrowest Detention Center.

During a court hearing on Saturday, Rodriguez’s private attorney, Ramon De La Cabada, argued that his client is not a flight risk and requested a lower bond.

De La Cabada also stated that none of the alleged evidence ties Rodriguez to any students at the school and that certain images shown in court do not specify ages.

Prosecutors requested a Level 3 GPS monitoring system and a standard bond of $5,000 per count. However, the judge ultimately upheld the $5,000 bond for each charge but did not order GPS monitoring.

A judge set his total bond at $35,000 and stay-away order was issued, barring Rodriguez from the school.

Rodriguez’s family, including his sister, who is in law enforcement, attended the hearing. His relatives are reportedly considering relocating since they live near a nursery.

Rodriguez bonded out of the MWDC Sunday afternoon and had nothing to say while being escorted to a vehicle by the people who were there to pick him up.

Local 10 has requested a statement from Pinecrest Cove Preparatory Academy.