A Fort Pierce, Florida, high school teacher was arrested at his Vero Beach home on March 21 and charged with lewd or lascivious conduct with six teenage girls, 14 and 15 years old. According to Fort Pierce deputies, the arrest of the 66-year-old teacher followed a three-week investigation after the victims described improper touching and said the teacher had taken them out to dinner and given them money. A search of the teacher’s classroom uncovered a mirror under his desk directed at a chair where the victims would normally sit.

The Fort Pierce teacher was taken to the Indian River County jail under a $600,000 bond. St. Lucie County Sheriff Mascara described the charges as second-degree felonies.

Crimes in Florida are charged as misdemeanors or felonies. The least serious are misdemeanors, punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a fine. Felonies are charged as first, second, or third degree, with first degree the most serious and third degree the least. Second-degree felonies in the state are punishable on conviction by a prison term of up to 15 years and a fine up to $10,000.

Any felony charge in the state is a serious offense. A charge of sexual misconduct needs the defense expertise of a Fort Pierce Sexual Misconduct Attorney. If you or a loved one has been charged with sexual misconduct or lewd or lascivious conduct, you need the services of an attorney who is well experienced in this area. Never try to defend such charges on your own. You want and need the best defense possible, and you can find it in the Fort Pierce firm of Jeffrey Garland, PA. The extent of so-called sexual activity becomes an issue that must be investigated as is the degree of assent between parties involved.

A second-degree conviction on a sex charge can make drastic changes in a person’s life, including a loss of job in addition to the stigma of such an offense. A Fort Pierce Sexual Misconduct Attorney understands the complexities of such a case and has the experience to explore all possible avenues for your defense. Let us help; call today.