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Police in Tucson, Arizona, arrested a former school counselor who organized drag queen shows for students and is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old minor.
The Police Department received a complaint that Zobella Brazil Vinik, 29, engaged in a sexual relationship with a Tucson High Magnet School student while she was still a counselor.
Quick action by Tucson Police and the School District
A statement from the Tucson Unified School District indicated that police warned school officials on May 4 about Vinik’s actions. The next day, after getting an administrative leave, Vinik submitted a resignation.
“The Tucson Unified School District administration will continue to cooperate with the Tucson Police Department in its ongoing investigation,” reads the statement obtained by local News 4 Tucson.
The alleged perpetrator turned herself in to police on May 11. She was charged with sexual conduct with a minor and taken to the Pima County Jail.
According to the report, police received the information from Vinik’s ex-wife, who also reported that the couple had allowed the 15-year-old girl to live in their home. The authorities’ investigation revealed “inappropriate messages” confirming allegations of a sexual relationship between Vinik and the student.
Vinik was in charge of an after-school program called “Q Space,” which, according to the school, where “students will learn about LGBTQIA+ history, create community, and engage in individual and group work exploring identity and collaborating to discover community care and joy.”
