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Old secret ends job at arts center

As a young teacher and cleric at a Tampa Christian school, he had sex with boys.

By CARRIE WEIMAR
Published February 27, 2007

TAMPA - Jorge Acosta's career had never been better.

His performance in Cigar City Chronicles, a musical at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, was winning raves. He was the artistic director of a St. Petersburg arts center and a highly regarded singer and teacher.

But it all came crashing down Monday, just days after a long-held secret from Acosta's past became public.

On Feb. 7, Acosta admitted in a sworn deposition to having sexual relations with at least three boys while he was a cleric and teacher at Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa.

He said he spent years trying to understand his actions in the 1980s and never again touched a child inappropriately.

"I've spent thousands of dollars in therapy," Acosta said. "I have tried desperately to figure out what happened because nothing like that had happened before."

But the reputation that Acosta, a former Cuban refugee, worked so hard to develop was shattered. He lost his job as artistic director of the Galaxy Center for the Arts in St. Petersburg, and the Performing Arts Center replaced him with an understudy over the weekend.

Friends say his once-promising career is probably over.

"It's devastating," said David Audet, an artist who fully supports his longtime friend. "He can't possibly work with children again."

Acosta's deposition is the centerpiece of a $5-million lawsuit filed against the now-closed school and the Catholic order that ran it, the Salesian Society.

The suit was filed by two former students who accuse school officials of failing to act on complaints of abuse.

Acosta could not be reached for comment Monday.

His deposition has not yet been filed in Hillsborough Circuit Court. His statements were made public in stories by the Tampa Tribune.

In the deposition, Acosta said he grew up in New York City after fleeing Cuba when he was 10.

Although he now lives as an openly gay man, he described feelings of fear and confusion about his sexuality as a young adult.

In 1983, Acosta was a brother in the Salesian Society, served as the choir and band director at Mary Help of Christians, and taught Spanish and English. He was also a dormitory supervisor.

He said his first sexual encounter with a student came when an eighth-grade boy climbed into bed with him.

"I remember that part of the shock for me was that he knew how to do all of this much better than I did," Acosta said.

He said that school officials were aware of two incidents of sexual contact with students but allowed him to remain.

Adam Horowitz, the Miami attorney for the former students, said Acosta's deposition was a great help for his clients' lawsuit.

"It's one thing for there to be a sick man within the priesthood," Horowitz said. "But the fact that people ignored that behavior is much more disturbing."

Horowitz said he hopes local authorities prosecute Acosta for his actions.

Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said her office will help law officers review the deposition and decide if further action is necessary.

Galaxy Center executive director Kirsten Perea said she phoned Acosta after getting the news this weekend. He told her he understood he could not continue in his job.

Perea said Acosta was a popular teacher, and that she had no complaints about any improper behavior. He worked with children from ages 9 to 17, she said.

"It's hard to believe because we certainly had no indication here," she said. "I think the kids are going to be really sad."

Paul Wilborn, the city of Tampa's creative industries manager, said the news was a blow to the local artistic community.

"I really felt he was at his peak as a performer," he said. "So this is really a tragedy."

Times staff writer Curtis Krueger contributed to this report. Carrie Weimar can be reached at 813 226-3416 or cweimar@sptimes.com.

[Last modified February 27, 2007, 00:24:47]