Miami-Dade band teacher arrested in alleged sexual relationship with student

Miami-Dade deputies arrested Heihachiro Nakashima, 33, on three counts of lewd and lascivious battery by an authority figure after they said he carried on a sexual relationship with a student. The case has put a harsh spotlight on Palm Glades Preparatory Academy, a charter school in unincorporated Princeton, and on how schools spot warning signs before a trusted adult crosses a line.

Investigators said the relationship began around March 2026, when the student was about 15. Deputies said the first contact grew out of complimentary tickets Nakashima gave the student to one of his orchestra performances, then moved into text messages and repeated encounters at his apartment in the Kendall area near the Dadeland Mall area. Local 10 reported that deputies said Nakashima took on a parental role and frequently told the student he loved her.

Telemundo 51 reported that Nakashima’s LinkedIn profile listed him as music director at Palm Glades Preparatory Academy High School since August 2024, and said he previously worked at Dade Christian School and St. Philip’s Episcopal School. NBC 6 identified Nakashima as an accomplished violinist, a detail that has sharpened concern in a specialized arts setting where students often depend on close mentoring and frequent contact with adults in authority.

Palm Glades administrators sent families a letter saying the school was cooperating with authorities and urging students to speak with a trusted adult if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable. For parents, the alleged path of the relationship offers a blunt checklist of boundary problems to watch for: private texting, special gifts, off-campus meetings, and an adult who starts framing himself as a parent or protector.

WSVN said the victim was a 15-year-old student and reported that Nakashima appeared before Judge Mindy Glazer after surrendering. Local 10 said Glazer ordered house arrest with GPS monitoring and barred him from contacting the alleged victim. Telemundo 51 reported that a warrant had been issued June 15, 2026, and that Nakashima had already appeared in court with a different bond figure, a discrepancy that underscores the need for families to follow the court process closely as the case moves ahead.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office told the public to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 with information. The arrest follows another Miami-Dade band-teacher case earlier in 2026, when NBC 6 reported that a North Miami Beach band teacher was arrested on accusations of inappropriate relationships with multiple students.