Pasco Co. School District Employee Arrested for Sexual Assault on a Mentally Challenged Man

A 55-year-old technology specialist at an alternative school in Dade City, Florida was arrested on July 15 for allegedly performing oral sex on a former 18-year-old male student who has mental disabilities.

The man is accused of inviting the former student he’s known for 14 years to his home to partake in yard work. According to a Pasco County complaint affidavit, the man allegedly took the victim’s shorts off and performed oral sex on him inside a hot tub.

The man was arrested for sexual battery on a mentally ill person. Following his arrest, the man supposedly told officers from the Dade City Police Department that the victim initiated sexual advances towards him.

The man was released on $100,000 bond from the Land O’ Lakes Jail.

A spokeswoman from the school district said no decision has been made about the man’s employment due to the pending investigation.

Regardless of the details associated with a sexual battery accusation or charge, it is essential to take the matter seriously and consult with a considerably experienced Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer even if you feel you have not committed a crime. The state of Florida hands out extreme penalties for sex offenders. If convicted of rape in Pasco County or elsewhere in Florida, you could face mandatory prison time as well as permanent registration as a sex offender. The Florida Sex Crimes Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help launch a successful defense against rape charges.

State prosecutors in Florida often look for special circumstances associated with a sexual battery case that can amplify the level of the offense as well as the amount of prison time associated with the charges. When the alleged victim of a sexual assault is mentally ill and the accused has actual knowledge of that, this is classified as sexual battery with special circumstances and additional penalties can be tacked on to the accused if convicted. Sexual battery on a mentally ill person is considered a first degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Perhaps worse than prison time is the fact that a person convicted of sexual battery could be labeled as a sex offender for the rest of their life and forced to register with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, who can display their name and other personal information on their web site that is easily accessed by the general public.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for sexually battery in Pasco County or throughout the state of Florida, contact the Florida Sex Crimes Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton online or call our New Port Richey office at 727-847-2299 or reach us anytime toll-free at 866-608-5529.