POMPANO BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A substitute teacher for Broward County Public Schools has been accused of having a sexual relationship with one of his middle school students.
Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 30-year-old Vernell Hicks, charging him with three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor.
Investigators said Hicks met the 15-year-old victim last year at Crystal Lake Middle School in Pompano Beach.
According to a BSO report, the victim’s mother found explicit Facebook messages between Hicks and her son, who was 14 years old at the time.
“Further investigation revealed that they were having inappropriate sexual activity,” said BSO Detective Cira Arroyo with the department’s Special Victims Unit.
Some of the messages, some of which dated back to June 2017, included plans to coordinate when Hicks would perform oral sex on the teen.
“He would contact [the victim] through messages, and they would coordinate when he could pick him up,” said Arroyo. “[Hicks] would take him to a secluded location where they would have sexual activity.”
The teen said Hicks picked him up from his house and drove him to a commercial warehouse area between five to six times.
“The substitute teacher in this case was able to groom the child and able to establish a relationship which lasted until now,” said Arroyo. “Unfortunately, it would have probably continued had we not found out about it.”
Deputies arrested Hicks at Pompano Beach Middle School on Thursday, where he most recently worked as an indoor suspension coach.
Investigators said Hicks initially denied the allegations but later confessed to them.
Detectives said they believe there may be additional victims because they learned Hicks is affiliated with a church in Pompano Beach. He is also the founder and artistic director of a children’s dance program called The Dream Project Arts Academy.
Pecola Simmons, Hicks’ grandmother, said she can’t believe what has happened.
“That is his life’s career, and I don’t how does that happen, but it happens,” she said. “I don’t know. I don’t even have an idea.”
Regardless of what happens, Simmons said she’s still Hicks’ grandmother, and she loves him.
“Lord, it don’t make sense because I don’t know if it happened, or I don’t know the reason or how,” she said, “but lies happen.”
Anyone with further information about Hicks is asked to contact Detective Arroyo at 954-321-4200. Anonymous tips can also be provided to Broward Crime Stoppers by calling 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.
Hicks is being held on a $150,000 bond.
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