A former Punta Gorda Middle School gym teacher, Dagoberto Pena, is facing new criminal charges after police uncovered evidence pointing to a second underage victim in an ongoing investigation into alleged inappropriate relationships with students.
The 37-year-old was first arrested in April on multiple charges, including unlawful conduct with a minor.
Now, additional charges have been filed after authorities say they discovered disturbing material on his cellphones.
Shocking Discovery From Dagoberto Pena’s Phone Evidence
According to court documents, investigators with the Punta Gorda Police Department obtained a warrant to search Pena’s cellphones.
During the search, police say they found eight videos showing Pena engaging in inappropriate acts with a teenage girl between the ages of 14 and 15.
The videos were reportedly recorded on four different occasions, most of them in the girl’s bedroom.
Investigators say Pena had been at the victim’s home on the same day as his initial arrest.
Text messages found on the phone revealed that the victim was uncomfortable and unwilling to participate in the acts.
Disturbingly, Pena allegedly responded that her distress was pleasing to him, according to court records.
More Charges Have Been Added With The Original Accusations
The victim’s mother was notified in June, and the girl was interviewed soon after.
She told investigators the inappropriate relationship began when Pena was her seventh-grade gym teacher.
According to the statement, he visited her home multiple times and recorded their encounters, despite her apparent discomfort and objections.
Authorities confirmed this victim is not the same person involved in the April charges.
Punta Gorda middle school teacher and coach is arrested for having s*x with a student. He also recorded it. DagoBerto Pena is PrEDatOr. pic.twitter.com/4SyFzBZeCv
— School PrEDatOrs (@SchoolPrEDatOrs) May 1, 2025
On July 3, Pena was arrested again and is currently being held in Charlotte County Jail without bond.
He now faces the following new charges: two counts of lewd conduct involving a minor between 12 and 16, and two counts of traveling to meet a minor after using electronic communication.
Similarly, Pena also faces two counts of an authority figure engaging in misconduct with a student.
These charges come in addition to the original accusations from earlier this year.
Dagoberto Pena’s Investigation Is Ongoing
Charlotte County Public Schools responded swiftly to the news. Superintendent Mark Vianello condemned the behavior in a public statement:
“This behavior is appalling, inexcusable, and goes against everything we stand for. We will never allow anyone who poses a threat to remain in this profession.”
Claudette Smith, spokesperson for the district, confirmed that Pena has been on unpaid administrative leave since May 6 and that the district is actively pursuing his termination.
She added that policy changes are being made to strengthen student protections, specifically updating procedures under Student Supervision and Welfare.
Exmiembro de la Selección Nacional de Baloncesto, Dagoberto Peña, es arrestado, acusado de tener relaciones sexuales con una menor en múltiples ocasiones y grabarlas en video. pic.twitter.com/A5zI7YjdQA
— Noticias N16 (@N16Noticias) May 1, 2025
The case remains under active investigation, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional victims coming forward.
Pena has declined all interview requests, and no statement has been released from his legal team at this time.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
If you or someone you know has been affected by abuse, support is available. Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE) for confidential help.
