Coral Springs Charter School teacher arrested and charged with sexual battery in connection to student allegations
Coral Springs, Florida – A teacher at Coral Springs Charter School has been arrested and charged with sexual battery after allegations surfaced that he engaged in a sexual relationship with a student. Joseph Melendez, 33, was taken into custody on Wednesday morning in the parking lot of the Northwest Regional Library, located near the school, by Coral Springs police.
Melendez, who served as the student’s American Sign Language (ASL) teacher, reportedly admitted to the charges following his arrest. According to a statement from the Coral Springs Police Department, Melendez confessed to having a sexual relationship with the student. The abuse is said to have begun during the 2017-2018 school year and continued into the following year.
The victim, a former student of the school, told investigators that the inappropriate relationship started while he was attending Melendez’s ASL class. Police also discovered that Melendez supervised the school’s after-school ASL club, which the victim attended.
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The allegations include sexual battery, with encounters reportedly taking place both on and off the school campus, specifically in Melendez’s classroom and his Coral Springs apartment. Investigators revealed that the relationship developed after the victim and Melendez began communicating through social media and text messages, which later turned sexual.
The investigation began last month when the victim provided a sworn statement to police detailing the abuse. Following the statement, investigators collected witness statements and corroborating evidence over the course of the next two weeks.
As a result of the investigation, Melendez has been charged with one count of sexual battery, two counts of lewd and lascivious battery, and one count of lewd and lascivious molestation. He was booked into the Broward County Jail following his arrest.
In response to the allegations, Charter Schools USA, which operates Coral Springs Charter School, confirmed that Melendez was immediately terminated from his position once they were made aware of the charges. The school has expressed its commitment to maintaining a safe environment for all students.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, and Coral Springs police are urging anyone with additional information related to the case to contact Detective Michelle Gianino at [email protected].
This arrest highlights the growing concern over inappropriate relationships between educators and students, as well as the importance of protecting vulnerable students from exploitation. The investigation is ongoing, and further details may be released as the case progresses.
