- Recently, the news Ocala teacher arrested has been making rounds on social media.
- Bernard Smith, 47, was arrested on four accounts of s*xual misconduct.
- According to the authorities, he was found touching female students inappropriately.
Recently, the news Ocala teacher arrested has been making rounds on social media.
Bernard Smith, 47, was arrested on four accounts of s*xual misconduct. According to the authorities, he was found touching female students inappropriately.
Bernard Smith is accused of violating Florida statute 800.101 (2)(a), which says authority figures shall not solicit or engage in sexual conduct with a student.
An authority figure is anyone 18 and older “employed by, volunteering at, or under contract with a school.”
The students that reported him to the school resource officer also accused Smith of making unsuitable remarks to female students over the years.
The complaint to the school resource officer on January 9th included details regarding various instances of Smith’s s*xual misconduct.
Bernard Smith’s time at the school is filled with various instances of s*xual misconduct.
He once fist-bumped a female student’s breast. One other time he touched a girl’s thigh inappropriately. Another student reported that he called her ‘baby.’
The report also revealed that he repeatedly made ill-suited remarks regarding different students’ s*x life. A student shared that Smith once smacked her bottom without her consent.
Smith’s predatory nature was not only limited to actions, he was also accused of stalking female students on social media platforms and was found sending them friend requests.
Another girl said Smith told her he could see her n*pples, which some people find attractive.
Smith was a West Port High School criminal justice teacher and a former law enforcement officer.
Smith was hired by the Ocala Police Department in 2006 but was fired two years later following an investigation into alleged untruthfulness.
In a Facebook post, the police department stated, “This is an alarming reminder that even some people in positions of power and trust can be corruptible, and it serves as a strong motivator to remain vigilant and ensure that those with such authority are held accountable for their actions.”
Kevin Christian from Marion County Public Schools said, “He was hired as a teacher and currently was the criminal justice teacher, so he was actually teaching students the consequences of breaking the law and what the laws are. It’s kind of ironic that, in fact, he was arrested for breaking the law.”
Bernard Smith was arrested from his Marion Oaks residence. The police questioned him on Wednesday regarding all s*xual misconduct accusations. As expected, he openly denied those accusations.
