The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested a Baldwin Middle-Senior High School assistant track coach and security guard on April 21, 2011 for sexual battery after the victim’s mother discovered inappropriate text messages on her child’s cell phone. The arrest report does not show the victim’s name, age or sex.
The coach was hired in November as a probationary teacher, but was let go in February after his probationary period was finished. According to a Duval County Public Schools spokeswoman, the man was hired back on as a school security guard and assistant track coach where he had daily contact with students in the halls and on the field at practices and events.
A background check of the man supposedly came back clean before he was hired as a teacher. The man was terminated after school officials learned of the allegations, which was the same day as the arrest.
The man is being held at the Duval County jail in lieu of $82,000 bail.
Sexual battery is a violent crime that uses sex as a weapon and haunts schools and communities nationwide. It is often assumed that sexual battery, or rape, is all about sexual desire and that the victim lures the attacker in seductively. In reality, sexual battery is an aggressive attack that is an attempt to control the victim by hurting or degrading them through a sexual act.
Sometimes, it can be all too easy for someone to accuse another of sexual battery. A false allegation can bring about negative consequences for a crime that may have never even been committed. For cases that have credibility issues, a simple “he said, she said” statement or a jilted or angry partner could be the reason you end up behind bars. By hiring an experienced Florida Sex Crimes Attorney at the first signs of sexual battery allegations, any evidence that can help your case will be preserved and it will be made sure that police and prosecutors follow proper protocol.
If you have been accused of a sexual battery in the state of Florida, contact the Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers online or call 866-608-5529.