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Professor, student each filed injunction

Accusations are traded over a reported romance that turned sour.

By ADRIENNE P. SAMUELS
Published January 15, 2005

A St. Petersburg College professor and a student accusing him of an improper sexual relationship and assault will head to court next month for a hearing.

Pamela Socorro, a 20-year-old student from Clearwater, and assistant professor Gary J. Rodriguez, 34, of Dunedin, filed temporary injunctions against each other in December.

Court documents show the hearing is Feb. 9.

SPC's trustees will meet Tuesday to decide if Rodriguez should be allowed to continue teaching at SPC.

Rodriguez, a professor at the Clearwater campus, is accused of abusing his position by having a relationship with one of his students.

Socorro's injunction, filed Dec. 10, accused Rodriguez of having an intimate relationship with her while she was a student in his class. It states that on Dec. 2 Socorro suffered a cracked rib and bruises after an altercation with Rodriguez. The injunction also accuses Rodriguez of threatening to kill Socorro.

Rodriguez's attorney, Craig Berman, says the couple didn't start dating until after the term ended. Also, Berman said, the altercation occurred after Socorro broke into Rodriguez's home.

Rodriguez filed his injunction Dec. 20. In it, Rodriguez says he was trying to break up with Socorro while she was at his house. It also states that he walked Socorro outside and saw some of his personal effects in her car. She then jumped on his back, biting and scratching him. Rodriguez said he did not try to retaliate and was focused on getting back inside his house.

Socorro did not return calls from the Times.

[Last modified January 15, 2005, 01:01:05]