A 53-year-old math teacher at Capitol Elementary School in central Phoenix has been found guilty of abusing seven girls under the age of 15 during class, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced.

Manuel Gavina faces anywhere from 17.5 to 70 years in prison and will be sentenced Nov. 30, according to the MCAO.

“This man is the definition of a sexual predator,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said. “Teachers are trusted adults in our community. Any child in any classroom in this county should feel safe at school, yet this man violated that childhood peace.”

Some of Gavina’s victims first came forward in 2017, and Phoenix police were first notified of the accusations against him in December 2019, when more victims came forward, according to a MCAO release, which added that Gavina would touch the children’s breasts.

“I will not stand for these types of attacks on our kids,” Mitchell said. “I’m proud of my team of prosecutors who proved his guilt and have taken the first step toward ensuring he is removed from our community before he does any more of this kind of horrific damage.”