MIAMI (WSVN) - A former coach at a South Florida high school has been arrested after allegedly seeking a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.
7News cameras captured Tyresse Leonard Jones as he was taken away by Miami-Dade Schools Police from J.C. Bermudez Doral Senior High School in handcuffs, Wednesday. The 36-year-old had been reassigned to duties away from students at this school located in Doral during the investigation.
The allegations originally stem from Jones’ conduct with a student at Miami Northwestern Senior High, where he worked as a coach and security guard.
The student’s mother spoke with 7News after her daughter reported Jones to police on March 10.
“So he’s supposed to be actually protecting them while they’re at school, watching over to make sure nothing happens to them in school. You is the biggest pervert of them all,” she said. “He been messing with young ladies at that school; my daughter was just the one who had the courage to speak up and tell.”
Police said Jones sent sexuall explicit messages to the teen on Instagram. One of them reads: “Man, I wanna make you my girl … I want you bad,” followed by talk about sex acts.
According to the arrest report, Jones offered to pay for the student’s hair and nails, and wrote: “If u doing you thang with me. Making me full good. Yeah ima send ah lil check if I have to.”
After the teen turned down requests to meet up with him in private, detectives said, Jones pinned her to the wall against her will, and brushed his hand against her breasts, as he told her to stop playing with him.
Concerned parents of Northwestern Senioir High students weighed in on the alarming allegations on Thursday.
“I’m honestly not shocked, in this era.” said Daphne Hardemon.
Officials with Miami-Dade County Public Schools said that during the investigation, Jones was working but had no contact with students. After his arrest, a spokesperson released a statement that reads in part:
“The type of behavior this individual is accused of will not be tolerated as it runs contrary to the professional conduct we expect from all employees. The District has initiated employment termination proceedings.”
On Wednesday, Jones was taken to the county jail, where he faces charges of offenses against students by authority figures, child abuse and battery.
Hardemon said she’s using the arrest as a teaching moment for her daughter.
“I do tell her that, you know, there’s certain conversations that adults shouldn’t be having with children especially by themselves, like at all,” she said.
Thursday morning, Jones appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer, who set his bond at $7,500. She directed him to stay away from the victim, as well as from Miami Northwestern Senior High School.
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