Clay County Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Student at Baseball Fields

A Clay County high school history teacher allegedly had sex with a teenage girl in her car at baseball fields near the school grounds, according to a Clay County Sheriff’s Office report.

The 25-year-old has been charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

According to a district spokeswoman, the man has been suspended pending the outcome of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigation.

The man was arrested Tuesday.

According to the arrest report, the father of the girl, who is a student at Oakleaf High, saw text messages between the man and his daughter that he thought were inappropriate and reported it to the sheriff’s office.

After going with her father to the police station, the girl agreed to speak with investigators and admitted she had been in a relationship with the man over the summer and that they had sex “a handful of times,” the arrest report said.

The girl told investigators that she and the man mostly had sex in her car at the baseball fields.

The man has no previous criminal history in Clay County, deputies said. He posted $50,000 bail and will be back in court Sept. 13.

Investigators picked Franzese up Tuesday at his portable classroom at Oakleaf High School and took him to the Orange Park substation where he was interviewed and then arrested, according to the report.

If you have been accused of having a sexual relationship with a minor, there are several possible charges you could be facing depending on how old the alleged victim was. All charges involving sex with a minor, including the charge of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, are felony offenses with prison sentences ranging from 5 years to life, along with the mandatory requirement of registering as a sexual offender.

After being arrested or even accused of a sex crime, time is of the essence. You must be smart and consult with a sex crimes defense lawyer as soon as possible to make sure your rights are protected. Police will try and make you think talking to them is the best thing for your situation, but the reality is they can twist anything you say to be used in their favor. An attorney can help hinder your statements from being used against you in court.

Our Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you right away with the charges you are facing. We know you might be scared, but this charges won’t go away on their own. You must fight back. Call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation.