DAYTONA BEACH — from www.news-journalonline.com – Two Beach Patrol employees accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a teenager and a part-time lifeguard accused of lying for one of the men have been notified by the county they will lose their jobs.

The State Attorney’s Office has re-opened it’s criminal investigation of Capt. Jecoa Simmons and lifeguard Christin Duarte, even though prosecutors said in September that there was not enough evidence to charge them with having sex with a minor, according to the county’s notice of intent to fire them.

In addition, a fourth veteran Beach Patrol employee — Bill Bussinger — resigned late last month after he was suspended without pay for looking at pornography on a county computer while he was on duty, an internal affairs investigation shows. According to the investigation, it was the second time in a year that Bussinger, a deputy chief, had viewed porn while on the job.

The three intended firings and Bussinger’s departure have rocked the Beach Patrol anew. The department was shaken last year when veteran Beach Patrol Officer Bobby Tameris was arrested and charged with having sex with a minor.

The same girl said she had sex at least once with Simmons and Duarte, and intercourse with the 44-year-old Tameris at least three times. The teen was 16 and 17 when the supposed trysts occurred, police reports show.

However, it was the accusations of a second teenager that got Tameris arrested in October. The second teen said she had sex with the officer at least 20 times when she, too, was 16 and 17.

All three men — including Tameris — have denied having sex with the first teenager. Tameris also denied having encounters with the second girl. Tameris was fired and is awaiting trial.

Simmons and Duarte, however, have said they sent several text messages to the first accuser. She also sent them several text messages, records show. Simmons could not be reached for comment Monday; however Duarte reiterated Monday that he sent the girl text messages that were sexual in nature.

In the county’s notice, county officials say the two men will be fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a minor, among other things.

County officials said the third employee, part-time lifeguard Rodrigo Miranda, lied on behalf of Duarte when questioned by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Miranda, a native of Brazil who speaks somewhat broken English, said he is a victim of discrimination by Beach Patrol supervisors. He said he was framed by investigators on the Duarte investigation and words were put in his mouth.

The part-time lifeguard is accused of telling an FDLE agent that he had seen a text message from the teenager to Duarte and that she was threatening to blackmail Duarte.

Both Duarte and Miranda plan to appeal the county’s decision to fire them, they said Monday.

Mike Coffin, director of the county’s Department of Public Protection, said the 60-year-old Bussinger — a 20-year veteran — was already scheduled to retire. His wife said Monday evening he had no comment.