MOUNT DORA, Fla.—An Apopka High School science teacher is accused of giving a juvenile edibles and alcohol and sexually battering him at his home in Mount Dora, according to Mount Dora Police Department.
Dmitri V. Kostyunina, 50, was arrested Tuesday after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) contacted MDPD and stated a “sexual incident” occurred at Kostyunina’s home in Mount Dora, an arrest affidavit states.
MDPD detectives met with special agents and the victim, and the victim said in September Kostyunina asked the juvenile to watch a movie with him. The boy, whose age was not released, told detectives they watched the movie and Kostyunina, gave him chocolate that had a warning on it and had a “weird taste,” according to the affidavit.
He told detectives after eating the chocolate he was very confused, and his head was “all twisted.” After eating the chocolate, Kostyunina filled his glass with wine. He then asked the juvenile if he wanted a massage. He said, “no” and Kostyunina gave him more chocolate.
The juvenile denied the massage numerous times and then Kostyunina allegedly performed sex acts on the boy in two different parts of the home. Kostyunina told the boy “this was better for (him,)” and would help him throughout the year, he told police.
When detectives interviewed Kostyunina, he said he had a medical marijuana card and he had recently purchased THC gummies and a THC chocolate bar. He admitted giving the boy THC edibles, wine and beer and claimed he “blacked out” and woke up to evidence of a sexual encounter, and “he knew he made a mistake,” the affidavit states.
Kostyunina was arrested for sexual battery on a child and cause to become delinquent dependent needy; the second charge falls under the contributing to the delinquency of a minor statute. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.
