OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A dean at Harmony Middle School is accused of molesting a 13-year-old student, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
In a news release, the sheriff’s office said Bradley Linville, 51, was arrested Wednesday on charges of lewd and lascivious molestation.
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Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said a 13-year-old boy told a classmate he was touched on three different occasions by the dean. The classmate alerted authorities and the investigation began, according to Lopez.
When investigators spoke with Linville he was cooperative but would not discuss the accusations before asking for a lawyer, according to the sheriff.
Lopez said all three alleged incidents happened in Linville’s office on school property.
Osceola County School District officials said Linville has been suspended with pay, and Superintendent Debra Pace will ask the school board to approve a suspension without pay at a meeting June 1.
“He will remain on suspension without pay until the end of his contract June 4, 2021, after which his employment with the district will be non-renewed,” a school district spokesperson said.
Lopez said Linville has been an employee of the school district since about 1995 and has worked at several other schools including Discovery Middle and Gateway Middle.
Authorities do not have any indication Linville has been accused of inappropriate behavior with other students but are asking anyone with information to come forward.
“We want to make sure if you have been a victim by this individual posted here please come forward,” Lopez said, adding it doesn’t matter how old a potential victim might be.
Osceola County jail records show Linville faces three counts of molesting a minor between 12 and 16 years old.
The investigation is ongoing.